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FUR FARMING 



A BOOK OF INFORMATION ABOUT 

FUR BEARING ANIMALS, 

ENCLOSURES, HABITS, 

CARE., ETC. 



Br 
A. R. HARDING 



Published By 

A. R. HARDING PUBLISHING CO. 

Columbus, Ohio. 



^v^"^^ 

^^w^ 



Copyright, 1909 
By A. R. HARDING PUB. CO. 






C. 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 


Two Co Dip? Received 


APR 28 1809 


CopyriKiit ..iitry 
CLASS CV, XXc. ^»o. 



Chapter. 



CONTENTS. 

Page 



I. Supply and Demand ^^ 



II. What Animals to Raise. 



27 



III. Enclosures ^^ 

IV. Box Trap Trapping ^^ 

V. Fox Raising ^^ 

VI. Skunk Raising ^^ 

VII. Mink Raising ■ • • ^^ 

VIII. Opossum Raising ^^^ 

IX. Muskrat Raising ^^^ 

X. Raccoon Raising ^^^ 



XL The Beaver and Otter 1^' 

XII. Killing, Skinning and Stretching 146 

XIII. Deer Farming ^^'^ 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page 
Some Young- Black and Silver Fox Frontispiece 

Enclosure in Thick Woods 32 

Corner of Enclosure 39 

Fence with Wire Turned in at Top 41 

Fence Showinor Sheet Tin 43 

Plan for Comhmed Enclosures 4(5 

Eox Trap for Catching Animals Alive 55 

Box Trap with Swing date 58 

Barrel Trap for Catching Animals Alive 60 

Another Box 1>ap (ij? 

Northwestern Fox Skins 66 

Map Showing Where Fox Farming is Feasible 72 

Plan for Arrangement of Fox Yards 74 

Box Shelter for Female and Young 75 

Corner of Fox Yard 77 

Fox Yard, Showing Outer Fence 78 

Yards of a ]Maine Fox Farm 81 



10 List of Illustrations. 

Page 

Corner of an Ohio Skunk Farm 90 

Mink Enclosure in Detail 103 

Ideal Location for an Opossum Farm...- 112 

Fur Farm Near a Farmhouse 117 

Muskrat House in a Marsh 122 

Barrel Shelter for Female and Young 134 

Fur Farm on Open Ground 135 

Elk in Enclosure 163 

Tame Deer Eating Watermelon 178 




Cf^ ^ ^^Z^^^^Q, 



INTRODUCTION. 



€VER since Columbus discovered 
America, furs have been an im- 
portant article of commerce, but 
at the rate of the catch durin<> 
recent years, the su])ply drawn from 
the natural sources — forest, tiehl and 
stream — will soon ])rove inadequate if 
not entirely (lei>leted in sonu^ species. 
Less than HO years a<»o, there were 
countless thousands of Buffalo upon 
the Western Plains. Where are they 
today? In the Ti^s and early 80's they 
were slain by tens ^f thousands by hide 
and robe hunters. Does or does not 
such a condition face some of the Amer- 
ican fur bearing animals at the present 
time? iVlany hunters and trappers 
must think that the supply will not long- 
be equal to the demand, judging from 
the hundreds of letters Avritten the Edi- 
tor of Hunter-Trader-Trapper, asking 
information about raising fur bearing 
animals. 

(13) 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

This work has been hastily gotten 
out to meet this demand, yet the sources 
of information from which the work 
has been gathered, are authentic. Much 
of the habits, nature, etc., of the various 
animals has been furnished by Mr. E. 
Kreps, a trapper of Avide experience. 
Facts have also been furnished by 
those that have to a certain extent fol- 
lowed "Fur Farming" and as well some 
information has been added from the 
United States Government Bulletins. 

A. R. Harding. 

Columbus, Ohio, April 1, 1909. 



FUR FARMING. 

CHAPTER I. 

SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 

TOR 3^ears there has been a belief that the 
supply of fur-bearing- animals would soon 
be inadequate to the demand. This be- 
lief is well founded and is apparent when 
the fact is known that the natural haunts and 
homes of the fur-producing animals are becom- 
ing less each year. The draining of swamps and 
marshes is destroying the homes and breeding 
places of muskrat and to a certain extent coon 
and mink. The saw mill and clearing of. the 
land is rapidly .lessening the natural resorts 
of coon, bear, wild cat and opossum in the South 
and Central States, while in the North, marten, 
fisher and lynx are being deprived of their nat- 
ural homes. 

Beaver and otter do not like civilization and 
leave on signs of man and his works. This is 
especially true of beaver; otter linger in waters 
fringed with timber longer even if settled. 

Some animals, it is true, do well in fairly 
thickly-settled sections. Among animals of this 

15 



16 FUR FARMING. 

kind are red fox, skunk, mink and muskrat. 
Yet no fur bearer can hold its numbers against 
tlie ever-increasing number of trappers and the 
persistency with which they now seek the fur 
producers. 

North America, furnishes a Uirge per cent, of 
the furs of the world — foxes, mink, otter, beaver, 
skunk, marten^ b'^^^? coon, opossum, muskrat, 
wolves, etc. Considerable quantities of fine furs 
are still secured in parts of Russia, in Europ(^ 
and Siberia in Asia; Australia furnishes great 
quantities of opossum, Avliile from parts of South 
America, the trade in cliinchilla is large. Yet 
North America has been for centuries, the great 
fur-producing continent and now that trapping 
is being pressed harder than ever and the natural 
haunts of the animals are becoming less each 
year, the question is, — where will the future sup- 
ply come from? 

In this connection the following article on 
The Fur Markets is reproduced from the April 
issue of The Hunter-Trader-Trapper : 

"The Spring or ^March London Sales began 
March 22 and ended April 2. During that time 
American Raw Furs were offered b}^ Hudson's 
Bay Company; C. M. Lampson & Co., and A. & 
W. Nesbitt. In faee of the fact that prices on 
some articles have advanced so materially that 
American manufacturers have bought sparingly. 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND. . 17 

the outcome of the sales was awaited with much 
interest by the trade. 

A year ago in giving the quantity of goods 
offered by the Hudson's Bay Company, this mag- 
azine said : ''Tlie quantity seems to be decreas- 
ing as the offering this year is less than 1907, 
and 1907 less than 1906." The offerings this 
year are still less than 1908, and for ready com- 
parison the Hudson's Bay Company offerings at 
the March Sales for three years are given : 

1909 

Otter 5,341 

Fisher 2,671 

Cross Fox 1 , 445 

Red Fox 2,987 

Silver Fox 344 

Blue Fox 14 

White Fox 2,058 

Marten 21,577 

Mink 10,966 

Ermine 15,314 

Lynx 8,856 

Wolf 3,756 

Wolverine 718 

Skunk 1,478 

Bear, Black 3,943 

Bear, Brown 387 

Bear, Grey 108 

Bear, White 89 

Badger 125 

Raccoon 140 

2 



1908 


1907 


4,968 


6,933 


3,224 


3,228 


2,678 


4,490 


6,598 


10,200 


526 


896 


63 


88 


6,703 


11,409 


29.808 


43,798 


13,091 


32,817 


14,280 


20,737 


31,892 


56,611 


4,207 


2,771 


865 


734 


5,023 


11,430 


3,740 


4,042 


353 


482 


123 


94 


59 


137 


169 


322 


243 


600 



18 FUR FARMING. 

The combined offerings of C. M. Lampson & 

Co., and A. & W. Nesbitt were as folloAvs at the 
Spring Sales in 1907, 1908 and 1909 : 

1909 1908 1907 

Mink 82,575 134,200 75,600 

Skunk 545,284 416,000 615,900 

Muskrat 1,238,257 1,015,000 1,018,000 

Raccoon 203,155 316,000 69,726 

Opossum 225,671 267,000 225,350 

Marten 8,168 15,000 18,600 

Lynx 1,500 7,550 11,727 

Fox, Red 25,600 36,660 31,870 

Fox, Cross 1,585 5,021 5,080 

Fox, Silver 539 728 1,015 

Fox, Grey 13,600 23,270 8,961 

Fox, Kitt 1,670 388 655 

Fox, White 3,310 14,000 4,785 

Fox, Blue 3,630 2,600 3,600 

Otter 5,211 9,000 2,916 

Fisher 2,914 3,440 1,705 

Beaver 14,282 6,800 11,900 

Bear 7,240 6,980 5,770 

Badger 4,070 4,475 5,905 

Cat, Wild 6,925 5,800 7,072 

Gat, House 20.344 15,800 17,000 

Wolf 21,365 24,150 12,100 

Wolverine 350 450 323 

Ermine 77,600 77,000 100,580 

Civet 19,200 33,000 53,800 

The nOticable falling off in the Hudson's 

Bay Company offerings can be accounted for 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 19 

from the fact that more ^'free traders," as the 
Great Company calls them, are yearly encroach- 
ing upon their territor3^ 

The offerings of Lampson and Nesbitt is short 
of a year ago with the exceptions of beaver, 
muskrat and skunk. The advanced price of 
muskrat, no doubt, caused more trapping of 
these animals than ever before. Again the 
fact of the dry fall in many localities bunched 
the rats, so that they were much easier caught. 
The rats offered at the recent sales are largely 
fall and winter. From reports, the collection of 
spring rats will be very light — in many locali- 
ties not more than one- fourth of an average col- 
lection. 

While the offerings now show some 200,000 
in excess of March, 1908, and also March, 1907, 
indications are that before the year 1909 ends 
there will be a shortage in the total rat catch 
for the year. Considerable anxiety is felt re- 
garding skunk, as the number offered was 
545,280 compar<3d with 416,000 in March, 1908, 
which is nearly 130,000 more. This is hardly a 
fair test. The offerings at March Sales 1908 
were light from the fact that skunk were not in 
demand at the beginning of the fall season of 
1907, when a good per cent, of skunk are caught 
for the following INIarch Sales. Go back another 
year, that is March, 1907, and see what the offer- 



20 FUR FARMING. 

iii2js of skunk were; you perhaps will be sur- 
prised to learn that it was 615,900 or 70,000 more 
than at this spring's sale. The offerings of bea- 
ver were larger than a year ago, but with these 
exceptions, there appears a decided falling off 
— note the quantity of fox, coon, marten, lynx — 
all much less. 

Furs are fashionable throughout the entire 
civilized world, and the catch seems inadequate 
on many articles. This is probably responsible 
for the high prices. At any rate, some articles 
have advanced beyond all previous high record. 
Prices for wolf, fox, lynx, wild cat and muskrat 
are very high, as well as many other American 
raw furs. Skunk reached a price that no one 
expected the i)ast season. Since early in IMarch 
or shortly after, too late to. get goods into the 
London Sales, prices were lowered on skunk, 
opossum, raccoon and some grades of mink, es- 
pecially Southern and Southwestern, but at the 
same time it should be taken into consideration 
that the quality is not so desirable as during 
tlie mid-winter months." 

Many believe that by far the most of the furs 
come from the Far North. Tliis is erroneous. 
It is true that the most valuable furs, such as 
silver, black and cross foxes, lynx and marten, 
come from that section. Some of the best otter, 
red fox and mink are also secured in the far 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 21 

northern country. Yet fully one-half of the value 
of the American catch of raw furs is comprised 
in the three foUoAx ing articles — skunk, mink and 
muskrat. 

In the Far North there will be foxes, otter, 
mink, and marten for some time to come. But 
what about that part of the country, say south 
of the Great Lakes, west of the Allegheny Moun- 
tains, north of the Tennessee and Arkansas Kiv- 
ers and east of the Rocky Mountains?— a section 
which has been producing about half of the fui^s. 

This section is the great skunk producing 
one and as well as one of the best mink and 
muskrat sections. It also furnishes from the 
Southern States Avithin the area outlined, great 
(quantities of coon and opossum. When those in- 
terested in the fur business consider that half 
the value of the annual catch is skunk, mink, 
and muskrat and that the best producing section 
has hitherto been the section as outlined, one 
can easily see that the supply will not long be 
equal to the demand. 

During recent years, owing to persistent trap- 
ping, the fur producers have been greatly re- 
duced and if not practically exterminated in 
parts of the country, are destined to become 
nearly so. The fact that skunk, mink and musk- 
rat have been so greatly reduced in the past few 
vears has caused those interested in the fur in- 



22 FUR FARMING. 

dustry to ask, — 'Svliat of the future?" with the 
settlement of the country and the draining of the 
swamps, clearing of the forests, etc., which de- 
prives many species of fur producers of their 
natural homes, how can it be expected that the 
supply will last? 

That skunk, mink and muskrat do well in 
settled sections, there is no question, but since 
their pelts are so valuable, more trappers are 
after them than ever before. In addition, maga- 
zines and books on the subject are more plentiful 
than in former years, so that the inexperienced 
hunter and trapjjer has far better success than in 
past years. 

There is always a cash market for raw furs 
and since the discovery of America, raw furs 
have been an important article of commerce. 
In the early days, beaver Avas the leading article 
and even at. this date thousands of skins are 
secured annually by the professional trapper in 
the swamps of the south and along the streams 
and lakes of the north. Scattered thruout the 
South, Rocky Mountain sections. Northern 
Canada and parts of the East, are several 
thousand professional hunters and trappers 
whose annual catch amounts to several hundred 
dollars each. The aggregate of these men, foot- 
ing up to perhaps |3,Oo6,000 or |4,000,000. In 
the settled sections are tens of thousands of boys 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 28 

and amateur trappers with here and there a pro- 
fessional. The annual catch of these foot up to 
perhaps ?6/)00,000 to |8,000,000, or double the 
catcli of tlie professionals who leave civilization 
in September and are not seen again until May 
or June. 

It is tliis cla^s (boys and amateurs) that se- 
cures the greatest quantities of fur and as the 
number of trappers is so large and the grounds 
necessarily limited, here is where the animals 
are rapidly decreasing and at the present rate 
are in danger of extermination. In some sec- 
tions tliere has been a wonderful falling off in 
the catch of late years, altho the number of trap- 
pers is larger. 

An industry paying the hunter and trapper 
probably |15,000,000 yearly is one that should 
receive attention. At the present rate of exter- 
mination, some of the fur bearers are destined 
to soon follow in the wake of the buffalo. The 
demand for furs is increasing as the population 
of the world is becoming more and more. Again 
furs are being put to more uses than ever. While 
the demand for furs are increasing, what of the 
supply? The day, perhaps, is not far in the dis- 
tance when the demand will call for two or 
three times as many furs as today. Where are 
they to come from? The natural supply is surely 
diminishing. 



24 FUR FARMING. 

The matter of 'Supply and Demand" is one 
that there is considerable difference of opinion 
upon. Hunters and trappers, as a rule, are of 
one opinion and that is that the number of pelts 
secured upon a certain territory is becoming less 
each year. Trappers going over their lines are 
surely the ones who know wljiether the fur is 
holding out or not. 

The number of persons seeking fur is larger 
each year. In localities furnishing as much fur 
as ever, the chances are that the number of ani- 
mals left for breeding is less each year. If such 
is true the day when these localities will show a 
falling oft* in the receipts is not far in the dis- 
tance. 

Until recently, many dealers and manufac- 
turers believed that the supply of wild fur-bear- 
ing animals was practically inexhaustible — that 
Avlien wanted, trappers would go out into the 
"wilds," catch, skin and send the pelts to mar- 
ket. These people are beginning to awaken to 
the true situation and while they send out price 
lists, circulars, and traveling buyers after raT^' 
furs, they say it is much harder to secure the 
goods wanted than formerly. 

A well known dealer in Minneapolis in siz- 
ing up the situation, says : "With the vast fund 
of information about trapping being sent out and 
with improved traps for catching and the great 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 25 

stimulus to trapping owing to high prices, in five 
to ten years, there Avill not be one-fourth to one- 
lialf the fur bearers that there are now, unless 
stringent laws are enacted to curtail the trap- 
ping.'' 

^'IJnder proper conditions, with intelligent 
care, no doubt, raising fur animals can be made 
to pay. Tlie raiser starting on a small scale and 
increasing as their knowledge increases. Most 
all successful business is built up by starting 
small." 

The dealer who wrote the above advertises 
(piite extensively for furs. The territory tribu- 
tary to that city has always been considered a 
good fur producing one. During recent years, 
the suj>ply 1ms fallen off materially in face of 
the fact of improved trapping methods and a 
greatly increased number of persons seeking the 
fur bearers. The same conditions are true to a 
greater or less degree in many parts of the 
country. » 

The American people, however, can be de- 
pended upon to meet all emergencies. They have 
already set about to provide for the future raw 
fur supply by raising the animals. As early as 
1884, experiments were made at raising foxes on 
the islands in the Northern Pacific Ocean, along 
the coast of British Columbia and Alaska. The 
experiments, 'as a rule, proved successful and 



26 FUR FARMING. 

there has been for years a number of successful 
fox raisers on the islands of the North Pacific. 
]\rore will be said about them elsewhere. 

In various parts of North America, experi- 
ments have been made, principally with skunk^ 
altho a few have tried mink and other animals 
but only in a small Avay, or by men who expected 
to get rich quick and who did not give the enter- 
prise the care and attention that is necessary 
to make a success at anv business. 



OHAPTEK II. 

WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE. 

CHEKE is a bright future to ''Fur Farm- 
ing." The person who knows something 
of the habits of the animal or animals 
that the}' expect to raise, will be the suc- 
cessful ones. A person who has always lived in 
the city would not be apt to make a success at 
general farming or fruit raising. The same ap- 
plies to "fur farming.'' The person who has 
followed hunting and trapping or the farmer 
who has given attention to fur bearing animals 
are the ones most apt to be successful. 

Foxes, no doubt, will be the animals that the 
majority would like to begin with, especially the 
more valuable species, as black, silver and cross. 
These for breeding purposes of course can be 
secured, but the present raisers do not seem to 
care to sell any of their stock unless at good 
round figures. They want to further increase 
their own numbers. 

A good many attempts were made at raising 
skunk a few years ago, most of which were 
failures. Some entered the business on a large 
scale, knowing nothing of the animal, and of 

27 



28 FUR FARMING. 

course failed; others ''peDned up'' a few skunk 
and as thej Avere not properly cared for resulted 
in failures. 

The recent advanced price for skunk skins 
has caused a revival in their raising. This time, 
an entireh' different class of people are taking 
up their raising, and tliey are going to succeed, 
why? Because tliey know something of the 
animal and are going at the business in a calm 
and business-like way. 

Mink, at present prices, look good to the fur- 
farmer. They are small animals but yield a 
pelt worth from |3 to |T, depending upon the 
size and color. Raccoon and opossum are com- 
pared with many fur-bearing animals as pro- 
ducers of cheap furs. This is true, but at the 
same time, they offer the most promising future 
for the fur-farmer in many localities. They are 
easily raised, and in addition to their fur, the 
carcass finds a readj^ sale in most cities. 

Opossum and coon will not dig deep seek- 
ing escape, but are good climbers and consider- 
able precaution should be taken to see that the 
wire netting is either extended in several feet 
at the top, or that a strip of tin a couple of feet 
wide is fastened to the posts some three feet from 
the ground. 

The ^'fur-farmer,'' should the market be low 
for certain animals, can keep over ; or the better 



WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE. 29 

plan would no doubt be to kill off the surplus 
males aud perhaps some females At such times 
do not make the mistake of killing off too 
closely, as some will do, claiming that the fur is 
low and that there is no need of trying to 
increase Tsiue times in ten, this is the time to 
raise as manv as possible, tor by another season, 
that particular article is apt to be m demand 
To illustrate: skunk were low m 190 <, yet 
had the raisers gone ahead, tliey ;v«"ld Ijave ^lad 
a supply to kill during the Winter of 1908-9, at 
nrices that were indeed satisfactory. 

Had the opossum raiser, during tlie low 
prices tor this fur in lOOT and 190S, sold off h,s 
Inecling st<.<-k at low prices, as ''-'"^'"'d ha^•^' 
,„.cn .on.pelled t.. do. he would not had a sup- 
,,lv when the prices advanced in Januai-y. 1!.0... 
• Some farmers malce the mistake of selling oH 
all their stock wlien prices ease up, expecting to 
oo into the raising again when a reaction takes 
nlace This is not tlie way to make the most 
luonev; when a reaction comes, other farmei;s 
who imve continued raising this certain animal, 
reap the harvest, selling to the market or to then 
neighbors at high prices. 

The prices paid for the various articles 
shows about what the grower may expect for his 
-crop " The demand, of course, will have much 
to do' with the price. Fashion is constantly 



30 FUR FARMING. 

changing but indications are that owing to 
diminishing supply?" and increased consumption, 
prices will be on a fairly high level always. 
Trappers and hunters often catch fur too early 
and as a consequence have blue pelts which are 
graded down. In the spring shedders and 
rubbed skins are secured which are sold as No. 
2 or lower. With the "fur farmer/' there will 
be no early caught blue skins or late caught 
spring and shedders. The animals will be killed 
when "prime/' and will bring best prices. 

Some reports from those that have experi- 
mented in a small way at raising fur animals is 
to the effect that they do not fur properly. 
This is true in regard skunk, when kept in a 
box or a small enclosure for weeks and fed 
largely on meat. The writer when a fur buyer 
has bought skunk that had been kept in a "pen" 
or small enclosure for weeks and in addition to 
being thinly furred, the hide was much thicker 
than it should have been. 

Indians and professional hunters and trap- 
pers of the north say that they can notice a 
difference in the fur of foxes, lynx, marten, etc., 
when the food supply is abundant. The fur is 
thicker and has a healthier, silkier and glossier 
appearance. The secret, no doubt, is to give the 
animals plenty of room and feed should be 
varied. Here is where the person who knows the 



WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE. 31 

habits of the animal or animals he is raising 
is valuable. When cattle, sheep and hogs are 
fed properly the}^ take on fat readily and pro- 
duce a healthy coat of hair or wool. The same 
applies to the fur bearing animals. 

What animals offer the best inducement to 
raise? This is a question that each individual 
going into the business must largely decide. The 
place you have in view for the starting of the 
''farm" will have much to do Avith this. Is 
the location one best adapted to skunk, mink, 
coon, fox, muskrat or some other fur bearer? 
Again, your experience should be taken into con- 
sideration, — what fur bearers you are most 
familiar with. If you live near a large city 
which offers a market for coon and opossum 
carcasses, this should be considered as these 
animals are easy to raise and opossum especially 
are very prolific, producing from six to twelve 
at a litter. While the fur of coon and opossum 
will never be very valuable, yet, as both fur 
and carcass have a cash value, they will prove 
greater money makers than many believe. Musk- 
rat are another animal that should not be over- 
looked as they increase rapidly and their flesh 
is now being sold in many of the larger cities. 

Marten and silver fox should not be raised 
in the south, as these are animals that do best 
in the cold sections. Otter and mink are two 



32 



FUR FARMING. 



animals that the sun fades the fur and as the 
darker the fur, the more valuable, it is important 
that as little sun as possible shines upon them. 
For this reason it is advisable to have the en- 
closure for these animals in the woods or thicket. 
In fact some trees should be in enclosures for all 




Enclosure in thick woods. 



animals. If raising coon or opossum, they will 
be "at home" in the trees while other animals 
will enjoy the shade in the summer and will 
make use of the leaves in the dens for winter. 
There are some animals such as marten, 
fisher, wild cat, weasel, badger and wolves that 



WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE. 33 

do not seem proiiiisiiii*' to ns to raise for various 
reasons. Marten do best in the high mountain 
sections; fisher and wild eat would be hard to 
keep in an inelosure; weasel and badger are 
not valuable and woubl Ixtth be difficult to keep 
in; Avolves are n()t valuable for fur and would 
require considerable attention and food, hence, 
not desirable to raise. In most states there is 
a bounty on wolf and coyote^ scalps but the rais- 
ing of them for the purposeof the bounty Avould 
not work — the bounty would not be paid if 
county officials knew from what source they 
came. 

Among the animals promising the best for 
raising are the black, silver, cross and red fox, 
skunk, mink, coon, opossum and muskrat. The 
otter, beaver, bear and lynx under certain con- 
ditions may be well Avorth considering, especially 
lynx at present value. 

bo you think present prices for furs will 
continue? Generally speaking, yes. In fact, 
some articles are liable to go higher. On the 
other hand some furs may go lower but are sure 
to sooner or later react. The chances are that 
raw furs will not soon sell at the low figures of 
past 3^ears. 

Suppose thousands engaged in the business 
of raising fox, skunk, mink, coon, opossum and 

3 



34 FUR FARMING. 

muskrat, what effect would it have upon the 
market? Would they overstock it? How many 
hundreds of thousands of persons are today 
raising cotton and wool to furnish clothing to 
the millions of people and there has always been 
a market. The same will be the case with fur. 
In fact, unless thousands engage in the fur rais- 
ing business, the demand is going to far exceed 
the supply at no distant day. 

Furs in the north are a necessity as no cloth 
will repel the piercing winds. Teamsters and 
others much out of doors wear fur overcoats, 
caps and use fur laprobes. Farther south, say 
in the latitude of New York, Pittsburg, Denver, 
etc., while furs are not an absolute necessity, yet 
they are much worn for comfort. In all the 
cities of the north, furs are -worn eight or nine 
months in the year ; in the central sections per- 
haps six months; Avhile in the south only a few 
months. In addition to this, American furs are 
worn in all civilized countries of the world. 

The farmer or stock raiser, as a rule, who is 
making the most money, is the one who raises 
not horses, cattle, sheep or swine alone, but 
often two or more of them. The same can be 
applied to fur farming. Suppose an enclosure 
of a few acres is made for skunk, why not take 
in a pond and raise muskrat, coon, fish and frogs. 



WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE. 35 

There is a ready market in all cities for fresh 
fish and frogs. 

The farmer tliat raises sheep not only sells 
the wool but fattens and sells some of the lambs, 
wethers or old ewes from time to time. The 
farmer is in the business to make the most out 
of it and such will be the case with the fur 
farmer. In the cities there is a demand for 
the carcasses of coon and opossum at prices 
ranging from 25 to 75 cents for coon and 10 to 
50 cents for opossum, depending upon the size 
of the carcass, as well as the city in which you 
are marketing. In New York, Boston, Phila- 
delphia, Baltimore, there is a ready sale for all 
coon and opossum carcasses at good prices. 
Other cities that use large quantities are Buffalo, 
Cleveland, Pittsburg, Detroit, Chicago, and 
Milwaukee. There is no city of any size north 
of the Ohio River but offers a market. St. 
Louis, Louisville and other southern cities be- 
ing near the coon and opossum producing sec- 
tions does not offer so good a market. Muskrat 
are.noAv served. as "marsh rabbit" in Baltimore 
and other cities. The trapper realizing from 5 
to 10 cents each. 

With the exception of muskrat, fur bearing 
animals breed only once a year, unless the first 
litter are killed or die, when another is some- 



36 FUR FARMING. 

times born and it might be said, such is fre- 
quently the case. The number that the various 
animals produce at a litter is given in the 
c]iai)ter dealing with that aninml. 

It is not all that are successful bee raisers 
who have gone into that business, yet how few 
failures are there among men who began in a 
small Ava}^, learning more of the business and 
gradually increasing tlie number of hives in their 
apiar}. 

One thing is important and that is, get the 
animals accustomed to their keeper as sOon as 
possil)le. The old will be wild for some time 
but the young soon become tame. Skunk and 
coon are easily tamed and even beaver, otter 
and mink have become so tame when secured 
young, that children have safely handled them. 

A man Avho has been in the ''fur farming" 
industry for years, in response to the inquiry, 
"Will the business pay,'' says: ''Yes, it will 
pay the right man big dividends on the capital 
invested." The right man is one who has 
"natural aptitude" for this sort of Avork, and 
who is "cut out" for "fur farming." If he has 
an "inkling" for this sort of Avork, he Avill study 
the nature and requirements of the animals and 
attend carefully to their eyerj Avant. 

Fur farming as an industry is only in its 
infancy, in fact, not begun. The future looks 



WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE. 37 

bright to those who engage in the business in a 
business war. To those who expect to make a 
fortune at the ])usiness in a year or two, we 
predict failure, but to all who are willing to go 
at the industry, building a substantial enclosure, 
paving the same careful attention to the feed 
and care of their fur aniuuils, tliat they would 
to other ^^stock," to get best results, far more 
tlmn ordinary profits should result. 



CHAPTER III. 

ENCLOSURES. 

CHIS is indeed, one of the important things 
in connection Avith "fur-farming." Some 
of the first experimenters in raising 
skunk and other fur animals, dug a 
trench from 2 to 3- feet deep, putting in rocks 
or boards edgewise to keep them from digging 
out, on top of Avhicli they constructed an upright 
fence of boards from 4 to 7 feet. On top of this 
fence was fastened a wide board to keep the ani- 
mals from climbing out. 

The enclosure should be an acre in extent and 
2 to 5 would be better. The "ranch" should be 
located where the water will drain off quickly, 
so that the dens Avill be dry, making a good place 
to burrow. The ground should not be level, or 
at any rate, should have good drainage. Skunk 
and perhaps other animals are liable to disease, 
if kept in damp and crowded quarters, such as 
sore throat or similar diseases, which may cause 
<leath. 

Galvanized Avire, No. 14 or 16, with about 
one-inch mesh, seems to be the proper material 
for fencing. Posts should be of locust, cedar, 

38 



ENCLOSURES. 



39 




40 FUR FARMING. 

or some other long lasting avoocL They should be 
fully 10 feet long and put in the ground 3 feet or 
more, depending upon how firm the earth is; they 
sliould be 8(4 about 8 feet or not more than ten 
apart, as your fence should be about 7 feet above 
ground. A trend i two feet deep is dug, into 
which your wire is put. From this it Avill be 
seen that you need woven wire 9 feet high to 
make your fence 7 feet above ground, as two feet 
are under. 

After your wire is in place, fill up the trencli 
Avitli dirt, or if there are flat stones, it would 
be well to place a layer about a foot wide, ex- 
tending inward from the fence or bottom of wire. 
Should any of the aninmls dig downward from 
the bottom of the wire, striking the stone they 
would become discouraged and give up, as the 
stone would cause them to dig in the wrong di- 
rection to escape. On top of the wire fence, a 
sheet of tin roofing about 18 inches wide, should 
extend around the enclosure, on the inside, to 
keep the aniuials from climbing out, for skunk 
as well as coon can easily climb out of your 
enclosure. 

Instead of placing the tin around the top 
some turn the fence in as shown in the illustra- 
tion. If this is done to make the fence 7 feet 
high, a 10^ foot meshed wire is required as two 
fe(^t are under ground and at least 18 inches 



ENCLOSURES. 



41 



should be used for turning in — 2 feet would be 
best. 

The ''turning in'' method has some advantages 
over the tin ; one being that dogs cannot get in so 
(asily, and another is that the fence will stand 




Showing Fence with Wire Turned in at Top. 



up better; the wide strip of tin or sheet-iron 
catching wind or snow which helps to sag the 
wire or cause the fence to lean. The tin or 
sheet-iron, hoAvever, seems to be the best in pre- 
venting anv animal's escape. 



42 FUR FARMING. 

The enclosure can be enlarged at any time, 
but do not make the mistake of beginning with 
too small an enclosure, as some have. Also have 
your fence about 7 feet high to keep dogs out, 
as well as to keep the fur-bearers in. Just how 
much the enclosure ^^ill cost depends upon sev- 
eral things : The cost of 9 foot, 1 inch mesh No. 
16 galvanized wire is about |1.50 per rod. This 
price, of course, will vary some, depending upon 
where you are located. In some of the smaller 
cities you perhaps cannot get the kind you want 
and will be compelled to send to some of the 
larger cities or catalogue houses. Perhaps you can 
not get wider than 5 feet. If such is the case 
buy in two widths — 5 feet and 4 feet. This will 
give you the desired height. 

Posts as already mentioned should be of lo- 
cust or some other long lasting wood, as cedar, 
and should be thoroughly seasoned before put- 
ting in the ground. The posts should be fully 
6 inches in diameter. If from larger locust and 
split, so much the better, as the older the tree 
the longer it will last. The cutting and setting 
of the posts, putting up of the fence, can be done 
by the "fur-farmer" in those sections where lo- 
cust and cedar grow, so that all the cash outlay 
necessary in building the enclosure, will be for 
galvanized wire, some staples and sheet tin for 
the top. Instead of placing the tin around the 



ENCLOSURES. 



43 



top, it may be fastened on the inside of the wire 
(as'shoAvn), about fonr feet from the ground. 

The coimer posts should be two or three times 
laro-er than the others; they should be set more 
firmly in the ground, iive feet being about right. 
ThisAvill necessitate these posts being two feet 







Fence with Sheet Tin Four Feet from Ground. 

longer than the rest. They should be firmly 
braced in both ways. 

The cost of fencing an acre, varies, of course. 
An acre contains 160 square rods or about 12^ 
rods each side — equal to 50 rods of fence. If 
the wire costs |1.50 a rod, and posts 40 cents 
each, the cost of material required to enclose 



44 FUR FARMING. 

an acre will be |95.00. AVe are figuring on tAvo 
posts to the rod. Add to this staples, gates, etc., 
and the cost will perhaps be about |100.00. Of 
course a much cheaper wire could be used, 
])oorer posts, etc., so that the cost would be 
greatly reduced — but it generally paj'S to do 
a thing well. 

To enclose a certain amount of ground with 
the smallest number of rods of fencing possible, 
the plat or ground to be enclosed should be in a 
square. The additional cost to enclose an acre, 
say 20 rods long by 8 Avide, Avould be material 
for 6 additional rods. To fully illustrate, an 
acre fenced in a square would be 12 J rods on 
each side, or 50 rods; if 20 rods long, the tAvo 
sides would be 40 rods, and the ends 8 each or 16 
rods, making a total of 56 rods. 

While the cost of enclosing an oblong piece 
of ground Avould be a few dollars more than if 
square, this should not stand in the AAay if the 
oblong piece of ground AAOuld make a better 
home for your fur-bearing animals. 

The persons avIio expect to make "fur- farm- 
ing" a business, can begin in a small way and 
same need not interfere AA'itli other AAork to a 
great extent. Year after year, as they learn 
more of the business, they can enlarge, etc. 
Trappers, hunters and others AA^ho from expe- 
rience know much of the animals, will no doubt 



ENCLOSURES. 45 

be the mo^t successful from the stai't. One 
party Avrites to know if skunk, fox, opossum 
and mink can be successfully raised in the same 
enclosure. If he means allowed to run together, 
they can not. If he means the same outside en- 
closure, with separate apartments for the various 
animals, there is no reason why such a place 
should not be successful as there will be advan- 
tages in such a plan. 

First, an enclosure of four acres can be built 
much cheaper than four separate enclosures of 
one acre each. To enclose four one-acre enclos- 
ures would require 200 rods of fencing — 50 rods 
for each. The four acres in one enclosure would 
be only about half or 100 rods. A square 25 rods 
on each side would be almost 4 acres. Should 
the fur-farmer wish to subdivide this into four 
tracts, a fence thru the middle each way would 
take 25 rods additional or 50 rods for both ways. 
This fencing need not be so high or so secure as 
the outside one. Should animals manage to get 
into anc^ther part of the four-acre enclosure, they 
would still not be at liberty, altho they might 
kill or injure some of the other species before 
being discovered by the owner. 

If possible have a small stream of running 
water in the enclosure. 

Without labor the cost of material will vary 
from 12.00 to |3.00 per rod. The greatest varia- 



46 



FUR FARMING. 



tion in expense will be for posts. Those living 
where posts can be had, having considerable 
the advantage. This estimate being for galvan- 




Plan for Combined Enclosures. 

ized one-inch mesh wire Xo. 14, per rod, smaller 
wire of course being cheaper. This is b}^ far the 
best material in making enclosures, yet found. 
Some of the first experimenters used boards, 



ENCLOSURES. 47 

but where there were cracks, or the sap or bark 
on edges rotted, affording the animals a place to 
gnaw, they soon found a way out. This had to 
be guarded against Avhere the boards extended 
into the ground they often rotted so that there 
was always danger of the animals escaping. 
Where stones were set up edgewise or cement 
used, it was rather expensive and as galvanized 
wire lasts well either in the ground, where not 
exposed to tlie air, or being galvanized, it stands 
the elements well, it seems to meet the require- 
ments of the fur farmer for fencing or enclosure 
purposes. 

Where is the farmer who would expect to 
make a success at raising horses, cattle or sheep, 
by keeping them in a small pen and feeding them 
foods not to their liking or nature? Yet, such 
has been the case with some of those who tried 
''fur animal raising." They made a failure of 
it and no one who is at all familiar with fur- 
bearing animals is surprised. Those who will be 
successful at "fur-farming" are trappers, hunt- 
ers and farmers who know something of the ani- 
mal or animals they expect to raise — those who 
love the animal and have a desire for the busi- 
ness. 

The ox, horse and sheep were all wild at one 
time, but have become domesticated. Why not 
the same with the fur-bearers? This is exactly 



48 FUR FARMING. 

what should be done. Skunk, especiall}^, are very 
easily domesticated, and other fur-bearers, such 
as coon, mink and opossum, soon lose much of 
their fear. 

When the raiser learns this and furnishes a 
large enclosure witli dens and food similar to 
their wild state, tliey will be on the road to suc- 
cess. As one raiser says : "The^^ do well in a 
semi- wild state." If the enclosure is too small, 
lleas, seed ticks, and other parasites are a great 
eneni}^ to the animals. In a large enclosure the 
animals are more ^'at liome" although at first 
they are restless and will walk around seeking 
a way to escape; that is they try to escape at 
night. The}^ are seldom, if ever, seen during the 
day when first let loose in the enclosure; they 
generally go in the first den that has been pre- 
pared for them. 

Water is important. If you are raising 
skunk, fox or opossum, water for drinking is all 
that they require; the same is the case with the 
coon, although they will do best Avhere they have 
water to wade, play and search for food. Musk- 
rat, otter, beaver and mink must have water to 
swim and play in, as Avell as to drink or they 
cannot be raised. The enclosure for mink and 
muskrat should include a stream of running 
water if possible, or a pond of pure water. The 
same conditions apply to otter and beaver, but 



ENCLOSURES. 49 

of course the wire should be of larger size than 
for mink and muskrat. Several different species 
of fur-bearers can be successfully raised in the 
same enclosure. Coon, opossum, and skunk will 
all do AA'ell together. BeaA^er and otter, appar- 
ently, live peaceably for weeks in the same bea- 
ver lodge or house. 

The thousands of small lakes, ponds, etc., 
offer a splendid opportunity for the successful 
raising of muskrat. While many owners of such, 
toda}', in their natural condition, or without any 
fence, are reaping a profitable and furry har- 
vest; yet there are additional hundreds that by 
building a fence around, would soon have a 
muskrat lake or i^ond worth a great deal. Musk- 
rat are fond of their homes and often remain at 
the same location for years. Jf a wire fence 
three feet high were built around this lake or 
ix)nd, (with one foot underground), it would 
keep the rats at home, as some would leave, es- 
pecially as soon as the increase became large. 
8uch a fence would also keep out mink, which 
kill muskrat, often. 

. Muskrat, in their wild or natural homes, sel- 
dom leave the water more than a rod or two, so 
that a pond a considerable distance from any 
stream, would be a comparatively safe place to 
raise them, without any enclosure. The danger 
would be, mainly, that after the animals became 

4 



50 FUR FARMING. 

quite plentii'ul, some would perliaps leave, for 
instinct seems to teach them that some should 
seek homes not so crowded. This has happened 
in their natural breedinij;' places where they be- 
came very plentiful. 

How large and where to build enclosures for 
fur farming, must be decided by each individual. 
One part}^ maj^ have a creek, pond or lake, per- 
haps a swamp, already inhabited by muskrat, 
and all that is necessary is to keep other liunters 
and trappers off. On navigable rivers or lakes 
having an inlet and outlet, we believe in most 
states any one can trap so long as he is upon 
the water. In other words, the water does not be- 
long to the land owner and he cannot keep others 
off; but any small lake or pond umj be enclosed. 
On this point it would be well to see some law- 
yer in your county, as different states may have 
different laws. 

A wooded bluff containing some den trees 
for coon, and hollow logs, stumps, etc., for opos- 
sum and skunk, would be an ideal place for a 
fur-farm. The location of the farm should be 
within sight of the home of the raiser, in case a 
dog should get within or a thief should visit the 
farm. To guard against stealing at night your 
dog would give the alarm, or you could have an 
electric appliance connect the farm T\ith the 
house. 



ENCLOSURES. ol 

Islands in lar^e lakes offer a splendid place 
to begin raising fur-bearing animals, and espe- 
cially those that do not like to get their ^fur 
wet" or that naturally are not swimmers. In 
this class are the various kinds of foxes, skunk 
and opossum ; marten, it is true, are not included 
in the swimming class, but the successful marten 
raiser perhaps will be found, if at all, in the 
higher altitudes where the snow gets several 
feet deep during the winter months, and the 
ground is covered with snow eight or nine 
months each year — such is the ideal and natural 
home of the nmrten. 

Skunk and opossum are two animals that do 
not travel much in extreme cold weather, so that 
an island in a lake or large river, could be used 
with no fencing. It perhaps would be best to put 
up a wire fence but it need not be so substantial 
as if it were not surrounded by water. Of course 
islands in rivers that overflow, would not be 
suitable. There are, however, islands in the 
Great Lakes and elsewhere, that can be used for 
raising both skunk and opossum with little or 
no cash outlay at the start. 

If islands are used for foxes (except in salt 
water where the water does not freeze), the same 
precaution in fencing must be taken as else- 
where. I^oxes travel during all kinds of weather 
and the first night the ice formed sufficient to 



52 FUR FARMING. 

bear tlieir weiglit, they would be very apt to 
leave. 

Coon could uot be successfulh' raised on an 
island. They do not travel much during severe 
weather, but unless the island happened to be 
some distance fi'oni the mainland, they would 
likely swim to shore. Mink would be at home 
on an island where there was fish, frogs, etC;, 
with drift and log piles to wander through, but 
as they are good swimmers, there would be noth- 
ing gained by starting with this animal on an 
island. 

Skunk nnd opossum seem to be the only ani- 
mals that can be safely raised on an island with- 
out the same precaution taken in fencing and en- 
closing, as upon the mainland. These two ani- 
mals, while not the highest priced furred ones, 
for various reasons will prove to be as profit- 
able, or more so, where conditions favor, than 
manv other fur-bearers. 



CHAPTER IV. 

]U)X TRAP TRAPPING. 

T^VAS born in Cenlral Pennsylvania and 
spent tlie greater part of my early life 
among the mountains of that part of our 
country, writes iMr. A. C. Williams, a 
well known trapper. From my early boyhood, 
1 had a decided liking for the wilder class of 
literature, and took special interest in tales of 
hunting and trapi)ing adventures; but at tliat 
time, did not know that there were many who 
still folloAved hunting and trapping for profit. 
When T did learn of it, I naturally became even 
more interested, and tried to find a partner 
among my boy friends, intending, if I could find 
some person to accompany me, to make an ex- 
tended hunting and trapping trip into some one 
of the wilder portions of the West or North. 

Of course I was no more fitted for such a 
trip than any other country boy of the same age, 
and knew nothing of the wilderness; but being 
a boy, and having read so many tales of boy 
hunters traversing tlie wilderness as they would 
their own back yards, I naturally thought that 
life in the forests was a very simple thing, and 

53 



54 FUR FARMING. 

tliat there A\'as no reason why I should not go. 
As I grew older I learned that there was still 
some fur to be found in Pennsylvania, and not 
only that but that there Avere parties who made 
trapping a business, in season. 

T was interested, and decided to trj^ my hand 
on the fur-bearing animals found near mj own 
home, before going farther, but I had no traps 
and knew nothing about the various sizes and 
grades; as a consequence, I sought out one of 
the trappers that I had heard of, and asked his 
advice regarding different traps for the various 
animals. He gave me the desired information, 
very v>illingly, and also remarked that he had 
been very successful in trapping mink and other 
small animals with box-traps. After he had 
mentioned it, I remembered that my father had, 
on one occasion, caught a mink in a box trap, 
after it had been pacing nightly visits to our 
chicken coop for a Aveek or more, killing a hen 
each night; but for all of that I did not know 
that these traps could be used successfully when 
trapping for profit. It was not very long after 
1 ly conversation with this trapper, that i had 
an opportunity of examining one of these wooden 
traps and studying its construction. I will give 
here a description of the trap used in that sec- 
tion : 

A plain box, size 10 by 10 by 24 inches, is 



BOX TRAP TRAPPING. 



55 



made of one-inch lumber, hardwood preferred, 
and is left open on one end and the top (see 
A) another part (B) the cover, is fitted in top 
and end, and hinged at back by driving a nail 
in each side, being careful to get both nails 
same distance from the end of board. This cover 
should work freely, and when dropped down in 
place, should fill the opening neatly, leaving no 
cracks for the captured annual to gnaw at. 




Box Trap for Catching Animals Alive. 



Now nail two strips (CO on opposite sides 
of the box and about three inches from the mouth 
of the trap. These strijis should extend about 
ten inches above the top of the box, and should 
have the tops notched to hold stick (D). Stick 
( E ) is tied at one end to a nail driven in the end 
of cover, and at the other end, is attached the 
trigger (F). One end of this trigger fits into 
a notch cut into the end of the box, and th^ 



56 FUR FARMING. 

other end fits into a similar notch cut in the 
bait-stick (G). The bait-stick, as will be noticed 
in the drawing, is slipped through a hole in the 
end of the box, just below the trigger notch, and 
is kept in place by means of a nail driven 
through on the inside of the box. A small trip 
board (H), rests under the bait-stick on the 
inside of the trap. This trip board doubles the 
value of the trap, as by its use many an animal 
Avhich merely enters the trap to smell at the 
bait, will be caught; which would not occur if 
the board were not used. 

To complete the trap, a snap catch (I) is 
fastened to one side of the trap in front of up- 
right strip (C) and its purpose is to catch and 
hold the cover when the trap is sprung. This 
snap is made of springy wood, beveled on the 
top, and the falling cover presses it outward ; 
but as soon as the trap is fully closed, it springs 
back to the original position holding the cover 
securely. In making this trap it is advisable, 
always, to use old, weather-beaten lumber. 

As a result of my investigation, I made a 
number of these traps and was successful with 
them, from the start. In that part of the country 
there had been many saw-mills and logging 
camps, at one time or another and at such places 
I could always find old boards from which to 
construct the traps. The only tools required 



BOX TRAP TRAPPING. 57 

being a saAv, a hatchet, and a half-inch auger, I 
would go to these places during the summer, 
whenever I Iiad a day to spare, and make a few 
traps, liiding them near tlie places where I 
wished to set tliom. 

Tlie trap described above is of the size used 
for mink, skunk and opossum, but I made most 
of mine on a larger scale, and by baiting with 
fish, I cauglit many coons. On one occasion 1 
caug]it three coons in one night, with only three 
traps set, and in auotlier trap, set by the side 
of a small stream, in a gap of the mountains, I 
caught three mink and two coons in one 
fall season. At another time I caught a large 
bob-cat in such a trap. 

As T said before I baited ^\ith fish when I 
could get them ;but those trappers who used them 
for mink alone, never used bait, but attracted 
the mink into the trap by means of mink musk 
rubbed on the trip board. 

I caught quite a lot of skunks in box traps, 
and it is a nice way to catch these animals, for 
the trap may be carried to the nearest water 
and the catch drowned by holding the trap be- 
neath the surface. It is advisable always, to 
place a weight — a few stones or wet chunks — 
on the cover, as this will make it more certain 
in its action. 

These traps are specially suitable for catch- 



58 



FUR FARMING. 



ing animals alive and uninjured, for breeding 
purposes, and noAv, that so many people are in- 
terested in raising fur-bearing animals, there is 
a ready sale for live animals, and this matter 
should be given attention. 

I have used another style of box-trap for 
muskrats, but is not intended for catching the 
animals alive, and the muskrats are always 
drowned. It is a simple box or square tube of 




Box Trap with Swing Gate. 

boards, 6 x 6 x 24 or 26 inches, open at both ends. 
A wire screen is fastened over one end, and a 
loosely hinged gate of i^ointed wires is hung in 
the other end. I used for the gate, pieces of 
umbrella ribs, cut about eight inches long and 
the ends filed sharp. With the wires cut this 
length the gate will hang at an angle of forty- 
five degrees, or more, and will push in easily, 
allowing the animal to enter the trap without 



BOX TRAP TRAPPING. 



59 



effort; but once inside, escape is impossible, as 
the gate cannot be puslied out, and even if the 
captured animal sliould raise the gate and at- 
tempt to creep under it, tlie pointed Avires will 
catch in its back and prevent escape. 

They are set in the dens, under water, and if 
the mouth of the den is too large, the space 
around the trap should be closed with sods. Set 
in this way, it will catch any muskrat that at- 
tempts to leave the den, and I have caught three 
at one time in. such a trap. 

While muskrats caught in this way are al- 
ways droAvned, other animals, such as: mink, 
skunk and opossum, may be taken alive by set- 
ting the trap in the mouth of the den, blocking 
up all side openings. The width of the trap as 
shown in the cut, is considerably out of propor- 
tion, when compared with its length— it being 
drawn this Avay to show more clearly the Avork- 
ing of the swing gate. 

A very effective skunk trap may be made from 
an old barrel. The barrel is piA^oted to a pair 
of stakes, driven firmly into the ground along a 
bank or hillside, Avhere skunks are found, and 
the bait is fastened on the bottom of the inside 
of the barrel. This trap is shown plainly in the 
illustration. It will be apparent to all that 
when the skunk, in approaching the bait, passes 



60 



FUR FARMING. 



the center, where it is hinged to the stakes, tlie 
barrel tips over, and it Avill be impossible for 
the animal to escape. 

Muskrats are somtimes taken with a wire 
net. To hunt them snccessfully in this way, two 
persons are required. While one holds the net 
over the month of the den, the other hunter 




V.'^Viil^ 



Barrel Trap for Catching Animals Alive. 



drives the inmates from the burrow by prodding 
the ground with a pointed pole. A wire cage 
with a cover must be used to carry the captured 
animals, and each individual must be shaken 
into the cage as soon as captured, and the cage 
closed immediately to prevent their escape. 

When box traps are used, no difficulty what- 
ever will be encountered in transporting the ani- 



BOX a?RAP TRAPPING. 61 

mals, as trap and catch may be carried into the 
enclosure before the animal is liberated. Even 
the skunk may be carried along in this way 
without any danger of scenting. The trap should 
be handled carefully — not thrown about. 

Muskrats may be handled with perfect 
safety if grasped by the end of ^the tail and held 
at arm's length. 

Trappers, as a ruh^, know just Avhat time of 
year the young of each species of aninml are born 
and I would advise, when trapping animals for 
breeding purposes, to catch them before this time, 
or at such a length of time after the birth of the 
young, that tliere will be no danger of their 
starving in case they are not captured along 
with the mother. Even if the very young ani- 
mals are taken from the den, there is danger of 
them suffering from careless handling, or from 
not receiving proper care. It is better to catch 
the female animals before the young are born. 



Another box trap that is a good one, is de- 
scribed by an Illinois trapper as follows : 

"I here enclose a sketch for making a trap 
for catching mink which I have used for years, 
and think it can't be beat. Make a box 22 inches 
long, 5 inches wide, and 6 inches high out of inch 
lumber; bore a hole at the back for the string 
(D) to pass through, which is tied to a bait at 



62 



FUR FARMING. 



(E) and fastened at the other end to a heavy 
wire (C), on top of the box, which holds the 
sliding door (A), when set. Aconple of strips 
(B) are nailed on each side to hold the door in 
place. This is a good trap for mink that are 
afraid of steel traps. For bait nse a rabbit's 
head tied securely to tlie string, also a few drops 
of good scent put on the bait, and set near the 
mouth of some tiles or wherever mink abound.'' 




Another Box Trap. 

This trap, as well as all the box-traps in this 
chapter, are recommended for catching such ani- 
mals as skunk, coon, mink, and opossum, alive 
and uninjured, for stocking "fur- farms." 

Muskrat can be caught in these traps by bait- 
ing and setting where they feed, or on runways 
from one pond to another. 

Animals caught in these traps can be carried 
with safety to both catcher and animal, to the 
enclosure, before taking out of the trap. 



CHAPTER V. 

FOX RAISING. 

CHE foxes of North America are divicled by 
naturalists into only three distinct groups 
or species, namely, the red, the <»ray and 
the Arctic foxes. Of these, the red 
species is divided into a number of varieties, 
among whicli are tlie Nova Scotia Red Fox, the 
NcAvfoundland Red I^^ox and the Western Kit 
or Swift Fox, etc. 

The black, cross and silver foxes are com- 
monly supposed to be only color varieties of the 
red, there being no difference whatever, except 
in the fur. While naturalists all agree on this 
subject there is considerable difference of opin- 
ion among others who give as proof that they 
are of a different species, the fact that the black, 
cross and silver are only found in the northern 
districts while the red variety is found well 
down into the south. There are, however, cer- 
tain facts whicli go to prove that they are 
all of the same variety or if different that they 
interbreed, the most convincing of these being 
the fact that the various colors are sometimes 
found in the same litter. But, be this as it may, 

63 



64 



FUR FARMING. 



the matter is of little importance to the prospec- 
tive fox breeder as it lias become a well known 
fact that the red color can be* entirely eliminated 
by careful breeding. 

The red fox is found throughout the greater 
part of Canada and the United States except in 
the far south Avhere it is replaced by the gray 
species and in the extreme northern portions 
of Canada and Alaska, where it gives place to 
the Arctic fox, also they are not found in the 
far western states nor on the Pacific coast, being 
n^placed here by the gray. They are perhaps 
most abundant in the New England States, New- 
foundland and the eastern provinces of Canada, 
but are also found in good numbers in parts of 
New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, ^Yest Vir- 
ginia and the mountainous and hilly sections of 
the South. 

The silver and black foxes are found but 
rarely in the most northern tier of states and 
are probably found in the greatest numbers in 
Newfoundland, Labrador, northern Quebec and 
northern Ontario, but an odd specimen is oc- 
casionally met with in all parts of Canada. They 
appear also to be quite plentiful in the interior 
of Alaska and the Yukon Province of Canada. 
The range of the cross fox is the same as that 
of the sih^er and black except that it probably 



FOX RAISING. 65 

extends somewhat farther southward into the 
United States. 

Of the gray foxes, several varieties are recog- 
nized, all however, being very much alike. They 
are found throughout the Southern and South 
Central States — in tlie east being found as far 
north as Connecticut and on the Pacific Coast 
are found in California and Oregon. 

The Arctic fox, also known as the blue fox 
and the white fox, is found only in northern 
Canada and Alaska. In the most northern parts 
of their range they are a bluish color in summer, 
changing to white in winter, but in the lower 
latitudes they retain the blue color throughout 
the year. 

There is an immense difference in the value 
of the various varieties of foxes. While the fur 
of the gray variety is seldom worth more than 
a dollar or a dollar and a half, that of the fine 
silver and black foxes will range from several 
hundred to a thousand dollars, and more if the 
skin is an exceptionally fine one. The Arctic 
fox comes next in value to the silver, while the 
cross is as a rule of less value, depending mostly 
on color, and the red variety sells for from 
three to five dollars each and upwards for prime 
skins. 

The various members of the red fox family 

5 



66 



FUR FARMING. 




FOX RAISING. 67 

are practically the same as regards habits, being 
influenced to a certain extent by environments, 
differences in climate and food, etc., but on the 
whole xerj much alike. They are all of a cun- 
ning, ^ary and suspicious nature and it is owing 
to this fact alone that they have ])een enabled 
to live and thrive in the face of the persistent 
hunting and trapping. They are hardy animals 
and while they generally have a den somewhere 
on the side of a gravelly or sandy hill, they spend 
comparatively little of tlieir time in the dens 
and prefer to spend the day \n a bunch of grass 
or weeds, a clump of brush, or, curled up on top 
of a stump. 

In their search for food tliey sometimes start 
out quite early in the evening, but are probably 
most active in the early morning when all animal 
life is on the move. Then it is that the rabbits 
and other nocturnal animals are seeking their 
places of rest and the birds, etc., are commenc- 
ing to move about and the fox stands a better 
chance of securing some article of food. 

Their food consists principally of small 
animals and birds, such as rabbits, partridge, 
quail, chipmunks and mice, but they also eat 
fruit, such as apples, wild grapes and nuts. 
However, they are more strictly carnivorous 
than the gray fox. They are fond of eggs and 
often rob the nests of ground building birds, of 



68 FUR FARMING. 

eggs and young, and in the settled sections have 
acquired a decided liking for poultry of all kinds. 

The food of the gray fox. is practically the 
same as that of tlie red variety but they are 
more given to eating fruit and feed extensively 
on grapes, apples, etc., and in some sections 
they feed on green corn. All foxes will eat fish 
with a relish when they can get them and will 
refuse scarcely anything in the line of flesh, 
being especially fond of muskrat, skunk and 
opossum. In captivity they take very kindly to 
a vegetable diet. 

The Arctic foxes live chiefly on lemmings, 
small animals which are found quite plentifully 
in the far north, but in captivity they thrive on 
fish and cooked corn meal. 

The mating sen son of the red fox comes 
mainly in P^ebruary and the beginning of March 
and the young, from five to eight or nine, are 
born in April or early in May. The young of 
the gray fox are born in ^fay, the mating season 
of this species being somewhat later than that 
of the red fox. The breeding dens of the fox are 
usually located on some gravelly hillside but in 
places where the country is broken and rocky. 
They use natural dens in the rocks. It is only 
during the breeding season and while the young 
foxes are still quite small that these dens are 
regularly inhabited. At other times they may 



POX RAISING. 69 

spend an occasional day there or seek safety in 
the dens Avhen hard pressed by hounds, but for 
the most part the}^ jjrefer to rest out of doors. 

Foxes prefer the rough hilly countries and 
are usual h^ found in good numbers in the hilly 
farming sections where there are old pastures 
and an occasional patch of woodland. The gray 
fox is most at home in the wooded districts but 
the red species, including the silver, cross and 
black prefer the more open stretches of country. 
In the north they will be found most plentiful 
in the barrens and sections where second-growth 
timber prevails. 

The two species do not appear to be on very 
friendly terms and not given to mixing one with 
tlie other. In some sections where red foxes 
were once numerous and the gray variety were 
unknown, the grays now predominate, having 
driven out the red variety. In other parts the 
reds have supplanted the grays. This, however, 
is only in the central and southern districts, as 
the gray fox is never found far north. 

Fox Farming. — Fox farming has been at- 
tempted by various parties from time to time 
and those, who have given the business consid- 
erable study and have persevered have generally 
been successful. Many of the parties, however, 
were men Avho have had practically no knowledge 
of nature, having gone into the business too 



70 FUR FARMING. 

deeply in the start and beiiii»- ignorant of the 
nature and habits of the animals when found 
in a wild state, have as a consequence, failed. 
Very few of those who have made a success of 
breeding the valuable silver foxes have gone into 
this business in the start, but have first exper- 
imented with the less valuable red fox, and as 
the silver and red foxes are of the same variety 
their nature and habits are also the same, and 
the knowledge of their liabits gained by exper- 
imenting with one is of equal value as applied 
to the other. 

The Arctic foxes are being raised successfully 
on many of the islands off the coast of Alaska. 
As the seas never freeze o^ er there, no enclosures 
are necessary and the business has proved com- 
paratively easy from the start. Such islands 
are not within the reach of the average fox 
farmer and other means must be resorted to. 
The breeding of silver foxes has, thus far, been 
carried on mainly in the Canadian Maratime 
Provinces and the state of ^Maine, but it has also 
been undertaken to some extent in Michigan, 
Alaska, Labrador and Newfoundland. 

We are certain that if one will give the mat- 
ter sufficient study, learn the habits and nature 
of the animals thoroughly and act accordingly, 
success is sure to follow and that the red, cross 
and silver foxes may be bred and raised sue- 



FOX RAISING. 71 

eessfully. Experiments should be conducted on 
a small scale, for otherwise failure would mean 
a great loss. ^Ve would advise that the amateur 
conduct his experiments with red foxes, learn- 
ing their liabits thoroughly before attempting 
the breeding of the valuable silver-gray. 

Favorable Localities. — It is a well known 
fact that the finest furs are produced in northern 
localities and fox farming should not be at- 
tempted in the far south. The accompanying 
map, which is taken from the bulletin of the 
U. S. De])artment of Agriculture, will show the 
area most suitable for silver fox farming. Tlie 
plainly lined i)ortions show the most suitable 
country, and conditions in those parts are most 
excellent and the cross-hatched parts show the 
area where silver fox raising is possible and con- 
ditions favorable. The red fox will do well 
somewhat farther south, but as before stated, 
the warm climate of tlie south is detrimental 
to fine furs, and it Avill be wise to not locate too 
far south of the shaded portions shown on the 
map. 

Having decided on a favorable section of 
country the next step is to find a suitable loca- 
tion. It is not necessary or even advisable to 
have a large enclosure. For the beginner a half- 
acre to an acre will be sufficient, and a space 
of four or five acres is ample for extensive oper- 



72 



FUU FARMING. 




FOX RAISING. 73 

ations. If the onolosiire is too larjie the animals 
will be wild and nnnianageable, and on the other 
hand if too small they will become nervons and 
restless and will not breed well, and it is ad- 
vised also that the foxes be not distnrbed by 
visitors and be alloAved to live as qnietly as pos- 
sible. A sandy soil is recommended, and there 
shonld be some trees for shade, bnt a thick woods 
is not desirable. 

Enclosures. — Fences should be made of ^ai- 
vauized woven wire of two-inch mesh, — number 
14 or 16 ware beinu' best. The fence should be 
ten feet in heiiiht and should be sunk in the 
ground tAvo feet and turned in two feet at the 
top. The overhang at the top is easily adjusted 
by means of cross strips on the top of the posts. 
Care in making the fences is essential, and if 
there is much snow in winter the drifts must 
not be allowed to become high enough to allow 
the animals to leap over. It is advisable to have 
a set of inside enclosures, and as it is necessary 
that the animals are not annoyed by visitors. 
It is a good plan to have the space between the 
inside and outside fences filled with trees and 
clumps of brush so as to obstruct the view. The 
inner enclosures are small and- designed for 
single animals and pairs and should be about 
thirty or forty feet in size. There should also 
be several larger enclosures for the males and 



74 



FUR FARMING. 



females, tor, except (luring" the breeding season 
it will do no harm to alloAv the males to run 
Each separate enclosure should be 



together. 



■2/2 rt- 



T \ '^OFt 






/o 



n 

1^ 



OUTEff COi//fT 
FO/f PROTECT/ON F/70r^ /A/TPUDEPS 



.^OFt- 



Plan for Arrangement of Fox Yards. 



provided Avith a gate so that it will be an easy 
matter to remove the foxes from one enclosure 
to another. The plan for the arrangement of 



FOX RAISING. 



75 



IS a good one 



and is 



the yards as shown here 

taken from the Government Bulletin. 

Each compartment should be provided with 
small kennels, for although the fox will usually 
dig a den, tlie nature of the ground is not always 
suitable and they take kindly to these artificial 
dens. They are usually made four or five feet 
square and two or tliree feet high. If desired, 
shelters may be made of boxes as shown in the 




Box Shelter for Female and Young. 



cut. No bedding is required, as the old foxes will 
do well Avithout or will provide one themselves. 
Feeding. — Many fox raisers have failed to 
recognize the fact that the fox is almost 
omnivorous and give a strictly meat diet accord- 
ing. While this does not always have disastrous 
results, it is better to give them a mixed food, 
including besides meat, table scraps, bread and 
milk, etc. Overfeeding is a common trouble and 
should be avoided. Of course they must have 



76 FUR FARMING. 

sufficient, but should not be allowed to become 
too fat, as this spoils them for breeding pur- 
poses; also feeding should be at regular inter- 
vals. The weight of a healtlw fox is from six 
to nine pounds, and when an animal weighs 
more than ten pounds it is almost certain that 
it is too fat. When a number of animals are 
kept together in one enclosure the boldest and 
strongest will usually get more than its share 
of the food. Of course fresh drinking water 
must be provided regularlj^ 

One of the most successful breeders feeds a 
quarter of a pound of meat and a quart of skim 
milk daily. A quarter of a pound of meat and 
a handful of scraps is a fair daily allowance. 
Another fox farmer feeds along with the meat a 
hoecake made of corn meal and sour milk. 

Beef, mutton, fish, horseflesh, etc., are all 
good food for the fox. Old worn-out animals 
may be secured in any rural district, but it is 
absolutely necessary that the animals be healthy 
and the meat should be kept on ice. One breeder 
claims that if everything were purchased, his 
foxes would not cost . him more than one cent 
each a day, but as he feeds considerable table 
scraps the cost is even less. 

Breeding.— In the wdld state the male fox 
mates Avith a single female but in captivity one 
male will answer for two or even three females 



FOX RAISING. 



77 



but it is best to have all animals in pairs. It 
has been found best to place the male with the 
female in December or January and leave them 
in company until the last of :\[arch when the 
males should be removed. The females should 
be kept in the small enclosures continuously and 




Corner of Fox Yard showing Stones to Prevent Escape by 
Digging. 

the young foxes removed when weaned. They 
breed the first season, when less than a year old, 
but as a rule the litters are small. 

As before stated it is absolutely necessary 
to prevent the animals from becoming nervous 
from too frequent visits of strangers. This ner- 
vousness has a bad efeect on their breeding 



78 



FUR FARMING. 



qualities. It is especially bad after the young 
foxes are born, as the mother fearing for the 
safety of her young, will move them about con- 
tinuously until they are badly injured or die of 
exposure. The keeper also should not disturb 
the young but sliould keep away from them as 
much as possible. In raising silver foxes, only 
the most perfect specimens should be kept for 




Fox Yards, Showing Detail of Outer Fence. 



breeding purposes. However, if there is a ten- 
dency to show some red among the fur this may 
be bred out entirely by using care in selecting 
the breeding stock. 

As there is considerable difference in the dis- 
position of individuals this should also be kept 
in mind and those animals showing the least 
aversion to man should be selected, providing, of 



FOX RAISING. 79 

course, that they are prolific and otherwise per- 
fect. 

A party in Ohio who has been raising foxes 
for some time writes as follows : 

Two years ago I added foxes to my game pre- 
serve and last spring my red gave birth to five 
young foxes. My black male fox got to the 
young and killed the tliree males. I now have 
three cross foxes, one black and four red. I ex- 
pect to have a big increase in the spring. Should 
I get a lot of black ])ups next spring I ^^-ill surely 
do well with uiy foxes. 

I find that foxes are not strictly carnivorous 
(flesh eating) animals. T fec^l them stale bread, 
milk and any kind of a dead fowl, rats, mice, 
stale meats, uiuskrat, coon or any otlier carcass. 
I aim to give them all they will eat, y(^t I often 
have thought that I feed them too much at one 
time and not enough at other times. 

I think foxes should be fed morning and even- 
ing only about Avhat they will eat. They should 
be given fresh water twice a day during the sum- 
mer months and the water should not be given 
them in a shallow vessel, nothing lower than an 
ordinary bucket. They are sure to foul the water 
if they can get over or in it. 

Allow me to suggest to any. one who contem- 
plates raising foxes that one of the essential 
things to do is to first build a kennel in such a 



80 FUR FARMING. 

way that they will not gnaw or dig out. A safe 
fox pen can be built by putting a stone Avail or 
concrete two feet down, setting posts first, then 
build wall around posts. Don't use any netting 
over two-inch mesh and the poultry netting 
should be made of No. 17 wire. Fox will tear 
the ordinary two-inch poultry netting as fast as 
you can put it on. 

Mj kennel is 50 feet by 25 feet and 7 feet 
high, covered over the top with ordinary poutr}^ 
netting. One of the essential things to do after 
Icennel is built is to see that it is properly under- 
drained and to see that plenty of dry leaves are 
put in kennel. Straw will do if leaves cannot be 
gotten. A mound of earth would be an excellent 
thing i neach apartment of your kennels. Foxes 
are great to be constantly digging in the ground. 
Keep plenty of boxes in your kennel with a nice 
smooth hole in each box, as a rough hole destroys 
their fur. 

A summary of the whole shows that the 
points most necessary of consideration for suc- 
cess is in proper feeding, in giving particular 
attention to the animals during the breeding 
season, in using special care to prevent them 
from being frightened and in the keeper win- 
ning the confidence of the captive animals. A 
careful study of their nature is advised and it 



POX RAISING. 



81 




82 FUR FARMING. 

should always be kept in mind that foxes are 
wild animals and tlierefore should have far more 
attention than is necessary with domestic ani- 
mals. 



CHAPTEK VI. 

SKUNK RAISING. 

CilEllE are but two species of skunk found 
in Nortli America, namely, tlie common 
striped skunk and the small spotted 
skunk of the Central States, — commonly 
known as the "civet cat.'' This latter name is 
wrong as the real civet cat is an entirely differ- 
ent animal. 

It is with the true skunk that this article has 
to deal, and of this animal naturalists recognize 
several varieties, the only diflVMvnce being in 
size and markings. 

They are found in all parts of the Tluited 
States, with the exception of the bunch-grass 
plains and the mountainous district of the West. 
They occur again to the west of the mountain 
ranges and also are found in most parts of 
Southern Canada. They are found in the prairie 
country and in the hilly and mountainous dis- 
tricts of the East, and are at home in the "wilds" 
as well as in the thickly settled districts, how- 
ever, they seem to thrive best in the farming 
sections and especially if the country is of a 
hilly nature. Their dens are located along the 

83 



84 FUR FARMING. 

gravelly hillsides, quite often under the roots of 
trees and stumps but in the prairie they den 
along the washouts and creek banks. In thickly 
settled sections they frequently make their home 
under houses and outbuildings, showing prac- 
tically no fear of man and often appropriate 
the den of the woodchuck. 

They are nocturnal animals and as a rule do 
not wander far from the den but in the fall they 
travel farther, looking for a good den in Avhich 
to spend the winter. Again, in early spring 
during the mating season, the males travel con- 
siderably. While they are not a hibernating ani- 
mal, they stay in the dens during cold weather, 
also when the snow is loose and deep, but are 
sure to be out on the first nice night. 

The mating season of this animal is in Feb- 
ruary and early March and the young are born 
mostly in May, although some will be born in 
April. There are usually from four to ten young 
in a litter but occasionally there will be a larger 
number. 

The value of a skunk skin depends mainly 
on its size and markings, they being graded by 
the buyers entirely by the amount of black fur, 
providing, of course, that the skin is prime and 
well handled. There is a considerable difference 
in respect to sizes and markings of the average 
catches of the various sections. From some parts 



SitUNK RAISING. 85 

of the country they will run quite large, in other 
parts small, and while in one section thej will 
run perhaps ninety per cent, long stripes, in 
other parts of the country the black and short 
stripe grade predominates. Of course the skunks 
of the South are not as well furred as those found 
farther north. 

Being slow moving animals, they can not 
catch the more active animals and birds as do 
the other members of the weasel family and their 
food consists mainly of mice, insects and grubs, 
also on the eggs and 3'oung of such birds as nest 
on the ground. They are very fond of poultry 
and frequently visit tlie poultry houses, killing 
the young birds. They also feed on carrion. When 
they can get it they Avill eat almost any kind of 
animal food. Even in tlie wild state the skunk 
is not, strictly speaking, a carnivorous animal 
as they will eat and in fact are fond of sweet 
corn when in a milky state, also sweet potatoes, 
melons and wild fruits. 

They have no means of defense other than 
their scent, but this is sufficient in many cases 
and the majority of people will give them a wide 
berth. This scent is only used when alarmed or 
frightened and in captivity there is no trouble 
whatever from this source as they soon learn 
that there is no occasion for alarm and become 
quite tame. 



86 FUR FARMING. 

Past Experiments. — Beyond all doubt the 
skunk has been given more consideration by 
raisers of fur-bearers than any other animal, 
with the exception of the fox. There are many 
who have tried raising these animals Avith more 
or less success and where the experimenters 
have used good judgment and have given the sub- 
ject all of the attention it deserves, they have been 
reasonably successful. Most of these people have 
started in on a small scale, having perhaps only 
a dozen or two of skunks to start with ; in fact, 
nowhere has the business been carried on as ex- 
tensively as some newspaper articles Avould lead 
one to believe; the majority of these parties hav- 
ing at the most only two or three hundred ani- 
mals. One of the largest ranches was located 
in Eastern Pennsylvania, but for various rea- 
sons this venture was a failure. 

It is the smaller experimenters, in other words, 
those who have begun on a small scale, Avho have 
been most successful. They are for the most 
part trappers who liad even before venturing into 
the business a fair knowledge of the nature and 
habits of the skunk and therefore were more 
qualified for making the business a successful 
one. Trappers naturally take an interest in all 
nature and are most likely to give the proper 
amount of attention to the animals, also learn 
their habits readily and act accordingly and 



SKUNK RAISING. 87 

these qualities are absolutely necessary for the 
successful raising of all fur-bearing animals. 

The most successful stock breeders are those 
who mala^ a special study of their animals and 
take a great interest in them and those who do 
not are almost certain to fail and really deserve 
failure. If so mucli care is necessary in breed- 
ing domestic animals, how much more important 
the care in handling the wild creatures, knowing 
so little of them as tlie average man does. But 
even handicapped by lack of knowledge the ex- 
perimenters have been fairly successful from the 
start if they were the right men for the business. 
Without exception they all report that the ani- 
mals breed well in captivity and are easily kept ; 
in a short time becoming quite tame and losing 
their fear of man. 

The skunk is an animal which is despised and 
feared by many people because of its readiness 
to make use of its powerful scent, the only means 
of defense with wliicli nature has provided it, 
but it is only when frightened that it uses this 
scent and once they have become tame and learn 
that they will not be harmed they are practically 
liarmless. We will say, however, to those who 
are afraid of the scent do not attempt to raise 
skunks, but devote your time to some other call- 
ing for which you are more fitted. 

It is true that the scent glands may be re- 



88 FUE FARMING. 

moved from the young animals but many of them 
will die from the operation and there is prac- 
tically nothing gained ; therefore, this practice is 
not advised. 

Those who have failed were for the most part 
people who knew nothing regarding the habits of 
the animal and its care when in captivity. They 
were men with capital, Avho began on a large 
scale expecting to make a fortune in a short time, 
but in this they were mistaken, for many of them 
lost all that they invested. These parties have 
had trouble from the older animals killing and 
eating the young, also from depredations of owls, 
but mainly from the first reason. It is our opin- 
ion tliat this cannibalistic tendency is caused 
by improper feeding, as those parties who have 
used care in that respect have had no trouble 
whatever. 

To those who are thinking of embarking in 
the business of skunk farming, we would say, — 
start on a small scale with only a small number 
of animals, say two dozen females and six males. 
Give them every possible attention and study 
them under all conditions. Do not expect to 
make a fortune in a short time. 

Enclosures. — After you have decided on this 
business the first thing is to find the proper lo- 
cation and make a suitable enclosure. There 
should be a spring on, or a small stream 



SKUNK RAISING. 89 

crossing the ground to be inclosed, but at the 
same time the ground must not be wet; in fact, 
it should be of rather dry nature, so that there 
will not be too much dampness in the dens. 
There should be banks of earth for the animals 
to den in and tlie ground should have a gradual 
slope so that it Avill drain readily. If it is of a 
sandy nature it will be all the better. Some who 
have tried skunk farming have located the yards 
on the shore of a small lake or pond and have 
included a portion of the pond in the enclosure. 
This is a good idea and it will not be necessary 
to extend the fence very deep into the water, as 
the skunk is not a water animal and will not 
dive under; however, where the fence crosses a 
stream of running Avater the fence should reach 
to the bed of the stream as the water will fall 
considerably during dry weather. 

The enclosures should be large. When the 
animals are inclosed in small yards or pens they 
become infested with fleas, ticks, etc., and they 
do not do well. Such small enclosures will an- 
swer for a short time but as soon as possible 
they should be placed in a large roomy yard. 
For fencing material, galvanized wire netting of 
one-inch mesh is advised, as the young animals 
Avill escape through a two-inch mesh. The fence 
should be seven feet in height. Under ordinary 
conditions the skunk would not escape over a 



90 



PUE FARMING. 




SKUNK RAISING. 91 

four-foot fence, but there is danger in Avinter 
from drifting snow, and dogs and other animals 
must be kept out at all times; therefore, tlie 
fence should be of the height mentioned and it 
must be turned in at the top or a sheet of tin 
placed along the edge to prevent the animals 
from climbing out. 

The interior of tlie enclosure should be di- 
vided into compartments, using the same ma- 
terial for the fences but tliey need not be so 
liigh. The largest compartment would be for 
the females and there should be a smaller one 
for the males, also one for the young animals 
after they haA^e become large enough to take care 
of themselves. Some also make small yards in 
Avhich to place the females, two or three together, 
after the young animals are born. The most of 
those Avho have tried skunk breeding, however, 
haAe not found this necessary, but there should 
ahvays be a separate enclosure for the males. 
When the nujuber of animals increases it Avill be 
necessary to have a few small breeding yards, 
large enough for ten or tAvelve animals. One 
need not, however, make such an elaborate en- 
closure in the start but can enlarge it as needed, 
adding more compartments. 

In each compartment a number of dens 
should be made by digging a trench and coA^er- 
ing afterwards. While the animals aa ill dig dens 



92 FUR FARMING. 

if necessary, they prefer even while in a wild 
state to use dens already made. Boxes, bar- 
rels or pens with board floors should not be 
used. Some of the successful ones claim that 
this has a tendency to cause a thick pelt and 
thin fur and say that it is absolutely necessary 
that they have natural dens in the ground. The 
dens should be made quite deep so that there 
will be no danger from frost in winter. 

Feeding. — Skunks should have plenty of 
food especially during* the summer and they 
should be fed at regular intervals, giving just 
enough for a meal each time. It is advisable to 
give a mixed diet, partly animal and partly veg- 
etable. They will eat almost all kinds of flesh 
and fish, table scraps, fruits, especially if very 
ripe, melons, sweet potatoes, berries, etc. One 
of the most satisfactory foods is bread and milk, 
but it is considered too expensive by some peo- 
ple. However, it could be given occasionally. 
They are very fond of carrion, but such food 
should not be given, for it is likely to cause dis- 
ease. If near a slaughter house one can get 
plenty of offal and in the country one can buy 
old, worn-out horses, etc., but one should remem- 
ber that the skunk will consume an amazing^ 
amount of food. One party claims that three 
hundred skunk will eat two horses in a week. 
In the fall especially, when they are laying on 



SKUNK RAISING. 93 

fat for winter, they should have plenty of food. 
In winter they do not require so much. 

It should be remembered that it is a lack of 
food that causes them to eat their young and one 
should feed well during the spring and summer. 

Skunks feed largely on insects, grubs, etc., 
and it is to be regretted that one can not supply 
this food. They are fond of eggs, either fresh 
or spoiled, and should be given a feed of this 
kind occasionally if possible. They also have a 
fondness for poultry of all kinds. 

The matter of providing sufficient food is not 
as difficult as it would appear at first glance. 
If the farm is located near a large town or city, 
hotel and restaurant keepers will generally save 
table scraps, stale bread, etc., on request, if one 
will make a regular habit of calling for it. Even 
in the country the neighbors will help out. The 
farmers will be only too glad to have you take 
the dead stock, poultry, etc., thus saving them 
the time and labor of otherwise disposing of it. 

Breeding. — As before stated the mating sea- 
son conies late in February and in March and 
the young animals make their appearance in 
May. The period of gestation being about nine 
weeks. 

One male animal will easily serve eight or 
ten females and he should be left in their com- 
pany a number of days. After that he should be 



94 FUE FARMING. 

removed and to make certain, another male 
should be installed for a few days. Two males 
should never be allowed with the females at one 
time or they Avill fight and one or both may be 
seriously injured. This is the plan Avhich is used 
by the most successful skunk farmers and is 
recommended. 

Great care should be exercised in the selection 
of the males for breeding stock. Only the large 
and healthy animals of good color should be used 
and all others should be killed and their skins 
marketed while they are in good condition. 

While the animals do not always breed strict- 
ly true to color, the white markings may be 
greatly reduced and the general stock improved 
by selected breeding. One should, each year se- 
cure fresh breeding stock from other localities 
and related animals should not be allowed to 
breed together or in a few years the result will 
be disastrous. One can not be too careful in 
this respect for it is very important. 

After the mating season the females should 
be separated, placing three or four together in 
small enclosures and they should be well fed 
or otherwise they may kill and eat the young. 
They should be allowed to remain in these small 
enclosures until the young animals are large 
enough to take care of themselves, when they 



SKUNK RAISING. 95 

should be separated and the females may again 
be placed in the large enclosure. 

General Information. — From the com- 
mencement of the breeding season until late in 
the fall the animals require a larger amount of 
food than during the winter and especially dur- 
ing the breeding season and while the mother is 
still nursing tlie young they will require plenty 
of nourishing food. They require fresh drinking 
water at all times and the enclosures should be 
so arranged that each compartment will be sup- 
plied. 

As before stated one should use care in select- 
ing animals for breeding purposes as it is in 
this way that the quality of the fur will be im- 
proved and the business made to be a profitable 
one. All small and weak animals and those 
showing considerable white fur, especially males 
should be killed off while the fur is in good con- 
dition. If you wish to "increase the number of 
animals do not be tempted for the sake of ui^ 
higher prices realized for the finer skins to kill 
off animals that should be kept for breeding. 

The animals should never be allowed to be- 
come frightened by the intrusion of dogs into 
the enclosure — dogs should be kept away at 
all times. 

The skunk raiser must watch closely at all 



96 FUR FARMING. 

times to see that the enclosure fences are in good 
shape so that the animals do not escape. If they 
are found digging holes near the fence, these 
holes should be filled up so as to discourage the 
workers. 

Fleas and other parasites are likely to bother 
the animals and they should have plenty of 
room so that they can change dens when the 
old habitations become infested with vermin. 

On the whole, one should study the habits 
of the animals on every opportunity and attend 
to their wants. If one will give the proper at- 
tention to the animals and take an interest in 
them there is no reason Avhy he should not suc- 
ceed. 



CHAPTEE VII. 

MINK RAISING. 

CHERE is only one species of mink found 
in North America, altho there are a num- 
ber of varieties differing in size, color and 
quality of fur. Thus we find in North- 
ern Maine and New Brunswick a very small 
variety having a fine silky fur of a very dark 
shade; farther west and south a somewhat larger 
variety, paler in color, and thruout the Mississ- 
ippi valley and parts of the south, also parts 
of Western Canada, a very large mink is found, 
but running quite pale, and the fur somewhat 
coarser than the northeastern varieties. 

Again, on parts of the Pacific Coast, a very 
small and poorer quality are found, and the 
mink from the lower Yukon River of Alaska 
are said to be of very poor quality. One or 
more varieties are found in almost every part 
of the United States, Canada and Alaska. 
Wherever there is running water their tracks 
may be seen; but they seem to prefer the smaller 
streams, as a rule, and they will be found as 
plentiful in the thickly settled parts as in the 
wilderness. 

7 97 



98 FUR FARMING. 

Mink are great travelers, but each individual 
animal has his regular route and seldom ven- 
tures far out of his course. While thej^ travel 
streams and lake shores as much as possible, 
they do not Iiesitate to leave the stream and cut 
across country in order to reach some other 
water-course. During the mating season they also 
wander away from the streams more than at 
other times. While they are always found in 
the neighborhood of fresh water, they are not a 
water animal, and in following a stream, always 
run on the bank, but usually as near to the water 
as possible. 

In the thickly settled districts where the most 
valuable fur-bearing animals, such as the silver 
foxes, otters, etc., are not to be found, the mink is 
the most valuable and is eagerly sought by the 
trappers. The fur is at its best during the first 
two months after it becomes prime, which in 
the north will be about November 1st, and in 
the south perhaps a month later. After the first 
two months, the fur commences to fade, especial- 
ly wher^ the country is open and the animal is 
exposed to the bright light, for the mink it not, 
strictly, a nocturnal animal. The darkest skins 
come, as a rule, from the timbered parts of the 
country. While the female is smaller than the 
male, she is also darker, and the skins have about 
an equal value. 



MINK HAtSiNG. 99 

The food of the mink consists mostly of rab- 
bits, partridges, quail, squirrels, muskrats, mice, 
fish, frogs, birds' eggs, etc. While they will eat 
stale meat, if hungry, they prefer strictly fresh 
food. Occasionally they will pay a visit to the 
poultry house, for like most animals of the wea- 
sel family, they have a decided liking for the 
domesticated birds. They are very fond of fish, 
and when same may be secured easily, they will 
kill large numbers, merely for the sake of killing. 

They are active and hardy little animals, 
apparently almost tireless, as they will travel 
long distances in a night. They are perhaps 
most active during the fall months, and in the 
north they travel very little during the cold part 
of winter. 

The burrow or den of the mink is usually 
located in the higli bank of some stream, but 
they frequently inhabit deserted dens of other 
animals, but always near the water. It is in 
these dens that the female and her offspring 
spend the summer months, never straying far 
from home. 

The first two weeks of March is the minks' 
season for mating, and the young — from four 
to six — are born about six weeks later. When 
confined in enclosures where the diet, water and 
temperature are similar with each animal, there 
is so little difference in the time of mating and 



100 FUR FAtlMING. 

bearing their young, that five or six litters may 
make their appearance within twelve hours of 
each other. 

The young are blind from four to five weeks, 
but are very active and as playful as kittens. 
The mother weans them when they are eight or 
ten weeks old. At about four weeks the mother 
begins to feed them meat, and they learn to 
suck at it before they have teeth to eat it. The 
young are fed by the mother on frogs, fish, mice, 
etc., until they are three or four months old, 
when she leaves them to shift for themselves. 
The young soon separate and do their hunting 
alone. They do not pair and the male is a rover 
and "free lover.'' 

Mink are extremely cleanly and as soon as 
the den becomes foul, the mother moves the 
family to some other nest. 

Mink Breeding. — There are a great many 
readers of the H-T-T Avho live in the city, that 
long for some Avay to profitably spend their idle 
time. I will give a successful way of breeding 
m_ink, according to Mr. Boughton's Guide: 

"Wild adult mink are almost untamable, but 
young ones readily submit to handling and are 
easily domesticated. The time to secure young 
mink is in May or June when they begin to run 
with their dams. The streams must be quietly 
watched for mink trails, and these, if possible, 



MINK RAISING. 101 

tracked to the nest. When they leave the hole, 
the 3^oung ones may be secured, or they may be 
dug out. Those T\ho own a breeding stock of 
mink ask very high prices for them, but if the 
aforesaid plan is carried out, it is an easy mat- 
ter to get the young wild ones. 

Management of Mink. — Mink being by na- 
ture solitary, wandering animals, being seldom 
seen in company except in mating season, it is 
impossible to rear them successfully if large 
numbers are kept together constantly; therefore, 
their enclosure should be a large one. The male 
and the female should be permitted to be together 
frequently from the middle of February until 
the middle of March. At all other times keep 
them entirely separate. 

^'About this season the mink should be al- 
lowed plenty of fine grass, which they will carry 
into their boxes to make their nests out of. A 
box 3 or 4 feet long and 18 inches wide is the 
shape they prefer. It should be placed as far as 
possible from the water to prevent the mink from 
carrying mud and water into it. Tlie young 
mink, when first born, are small and delicate, 
destitute of any kind of fur and much resemble 
young rats. If the old mink is tame, the young 
ones may be taken out of the nest and handled 
when they are three weeks old: They will soon 
learn to drink milk, and may be fed every day. 



102 FUR FARMING. 

At three weeks of age they may be taken from 
their mother and put into a pen by themselves, 
and then they will soon become very playful, are 
pretty, and nrake much better mothers than they 
would if allowed to run Avith the old one. 

The shelter should be in the shape of a long 
box, 5 or 6 feet wide and 3 or 4 feet high, set 
upon legs, with a good floor and roof. Divide 
into separate apartments 6 feet long (longer 
would be better), the front of each apartment 
to be furnished Avitli a swinging door of strong 
screen wire, with liinges at the top, and a latch 
on the bottom. A trough 6 inches square, should 
run the entire length of pen at rear side; one 
end of the trough should be made several inches 
lower than the other, so that the water could be 
draA^n off. With this arrangement the water 
can be turned in at one end of trough, and be 
drawn off and changed as often as desired. The- 
lower end of the trough should be a little deeper 
than the other end to prevent the water from 
running over. Each apartment is furnished 
with a box 3 feet long and 13 inches wide. On 
one side of the box, and near one end is made a 
round hole about 4 inches in diameter, and pro- 
vided with a sliding cover, so by means of a 
stick it can be opened or closed from the outside. 
This is so the mink can be closed up while the 
pen is being cleaned. 



MINK RAISING. 



103 



On the top of the box and at the other end 
should be a door large enough to put in gTass, 
straw, etc., for the nest, and take out young. It 
is necessary that thev have an abundance of pure 




Mink Enclosure in Detail. 



soft water, fresh air, desirable shade and plenty 
of exercise. These conditions secure for the 
mink a good quality of dark fur and good health. 
Brush, weeds, etc., are allowed to grow up in 



104 FUR FARMING. 

the yard, but not near enough to the fence to 
admit of their climbing up and out. 

The fence for the enclosure should be of poul- 
try netting of one-inch mesh. If of larger mesh 
the young animals will escape. The general plan 
for the fence should be the same as described 
under the heading, ^'Enclosures." There should 
be separate apartments for the males and fe- 
males, and also some smaller breeding pens. As 
it is not advisable to attempt handling the ani- 
mals, each compartment should be provided with 
a small gate so that the animals may be driven 
from one pen to the other. During the breeding 
season, and afterwards, while the young animals 
are under the care of the mother, the same gen- 
eral methods of handling as is recommended in 
skunk raiding, should be adopted. 

At all times, plenty of fresh water must be 
provided, and the enclosures should be so ar- 
ranged that the water will be distributed to all 
parts. While the mink is always found near 
the water, it is not a water animal, as is the 
muskrat, and a large body of same is not needed. 
A spring or a small stream is all that is needed ; 
and a pond may be dug in each of the large en- 
closures. 

Careful and regular feeding is advised. The 
mink is strictly a carnivorous animal, and al- 
ways prefers fresh food. The matter of sup- 



MINK RAISING. 105 

plying sufficient food will be more difficult than 
in the case of the skunk and muskrat. As they 
are fond of fish, if one is near a place where 
they may be obtained, tlie feeding will be com- 
paratively easy. They should not, however, be 
fed on fish alone. An occasional fowl Avill be 
acceptable, also rabbit, muskrat, etc. 

The natural home and breeding place of the 
mink is near the water. Their den is often under 
an old stump, tree or in some drift pile. The nest 
where the young are born generally being in the 
ground. When tlie animals become tame enough, 
the raiser should provide dens similar to those 
used in their wild state. These can be made by 
burying tile in the ground and in other ways 
making artificial burrows. A few hollow logs 
placed in the enclosure would be enjoyed by the 
animals. 

Many report that the males kill the young. 
This should be guarded against by keeping the 
males separate. Some hesitate about starting a 
"minkery" for fear that the animals will not fur 
properl5^ There is no danger on that point if 
properly fed, watered and given homes in keep- 
ing with those they lived in when roving at their 
own free will. This only brings out more forc- 
ibly the fact that those who are going to be the 
most successful mink raisers should have a 
natural aptitude for the business — trappers, 



106 FUR FARMING. 

hunters, animal lovers, etc. Who has made the 
greatest success at raising stock in your neighbor- 
hood — the man who loves stock or someone who 
thought they saw a fortune in the business but 
neither loved animals or knew anything about 
them? We venture the answer, without fear of 
contradiction, that it has been the party who 
loves and delights in stock. Kemember, this ap- 
plies to fur animals as well as horses, sheep and 
cattle. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

OPOSSUM RAISING. 

CHE opossum is a southern animal and is 
found in abundance in most parts of the 
Southern States. In late years they have 
been moving farther northward and are 
now found, though not numerous, as far north 
as Centra] Pennsylvania; but are found most 
plentifully in the wooded portions of the South, 
where they are such a common animal as to be 
well known to all. 

They are slow moving and inoffensive, having 
no means of defense whatever. When approached, 
they make a great show by opening the mouth, 
and present a rather fierce appearance, but when 
touched by man or animal, they pretend to be 
dead, and this very characteristic habit has given 
rise to the expression, ^'playing 'possum.'' 

While the opossum is a nocturnal animal, it 
is sometimes seen in daylight, but this is of rare 
occurrence. They do not hibernate but will re- 
main in the dens during cold weather, and do 
not like to roam about when the leaves are dry 
and rustly. 

The dens are, as a rule, located in the grounu, 

107 



108 FUR FARMING. 

under a rock, log or tree, and are quite shallow ; 
the nest at the extremity being lined with leaves 
or grass. They also den in hollow logs and 
stumps occasionally, and in natural openings 
in rock bluffs. 

The young of this animal are born in the last 
half of April and the beginning of May, the 
number of young varying from six to twelve, 
and sometimes even more. When born they are 
very small and imperfectly formed and are im- 
mediately placed by the mother in the pouch on 
her belly, where they remain until they have 
attained a perfect form and have become large 
enough to walk about. After being placed in the 
pouch, they attach themselves to the teats of the 
mother, and remain in that condition until they 
liave become large enough to move about. 
^^ On leaving the pouch, they quite often ride 
about, when tired, on the mother's back, holding 
fast by winding their tails about that of the 
parent. They will reach their full groAvth 
within a year, if the conditions are favorable — 
that is, if they have plenty of food, etc. In cap- 
tivity, when well cared for, they attain consid- 
erable size by midwinter. 

The opossum is omnivorous, feeding alike on 
animal and vegetable food, but it prefers flesh 
to fruit. They feed on carrion, and on any 
small animal which their slow movements will 



OPOSSUM RAISING. 109 

allow of capturing, also on eggs and young birds, 
for they are good climbers. They are quite 
fond of wild fruits, such as persimmons, polk 
berries, apples and paw-paws; also of certain 
vegetables, especially onions. They also eat 
mice, insects, etc. 

Opossums are hunted extensively in the 
South, and when pursued they usually climb the 
nearest tree, unless they are close to the den. 
As an article of food they are highly esteemed, 
especially by the colored people, and find a ready 
sale in the market. 

While the fur of this animal is not, strictly 
speaking, a valuable one, to the prospective fur- 
farmer it is well worth considering, especially 
if located near a market. At present prices the 
young animals by midwinter, will average a dol- 
lar each in value, when selling both the skin and 
carcass. The ease with which they may be raised 
is also an important factor, so that on the whole, 
in many sections, they will be found to be a 
profitable animal to handle. 

Opossums are fairly good climbers and the 
enclosure should have a wide strip of tin around, 
as described elscAvhere in the chapter on Enclos- 
ures. They will also gnaw out of wooden en- 
closures if there is a crack or any chance to get 
a start. They will readily climb out of the 
enclosure if made of wood unless covered or at 



110 FUR FARMING. 

least partially covered. There has been no bet- 
ter or cheaper material found for constructing 
fences for opossum raising purposes than gal- 
vanized wire. 

They are not much given to digging and the 
wire need not be buried very deep in the earth. 
If the ground is solid, 18 inches will be deep 
enough. The animals, if properly fed, watered 
and cared for, will soon become accustomed to 
their quarters, and make little or no effort to 
escape. The young will become tame and quite 
playful. 

The natural home of the opossum can be de- 
scribed as south of a line drawn west from New 
York City through Penns^dvania, Northern Ohio 
and Indiana, south of Chicago, through Iowa 
near Des Moines, and into Nebraska near Omaha, 
extending about half way into Nebraska, then 
South through Kansas, all of Oklahoma and the 
lowlands or the Eastern half of Texas. The 
opossum is not a cold weather animal, and in 
its wild state would freeze if it inhabited terri- 
tory much farther north than the northern 
boundary of the line shown. A severe winter a 
few years ago, is said to have frozen large num- 
bers in their dens in Southern Ohio, Pennsyl- 
vania, and parts of West Virginia, Indiana and 
Illinois. 

In their natural or wild state, they often 



OPOSSUM RAISING. Ill 

hole up in shallow dens, old logs, trees, etc., and 
while they are endowed with the instinct of 
'Splaying 'possum" when injured, their instinct 
along other lines seems very shallow, as they do 
not always know enough to "get in out of the 
cold f in other words, on the approach of severe 
winter weather, they do not all seek deep dens 
where the ground does not freeze. 

While the natural home of the opossum is in 
the section as outlined, there is no reason why 
they cannot be successfully raised hundreds of 
miles north of their northern limit. The thing 
to guard against will be freezing. The raiser 
must see that they have good and deep burrows 
— deep enough that the ground will never freeze 
to their nest. They should have plenty of leaves 
in their nest. If the enclosure is in a thicket, 
and there are trees A^ithin and leaves near, the 
animals will no doubt carry an abundance of 
leaves into their dens for nests. If there are no 
trees in the enclosure, see that a supply is fur- 
nished each den before freezing weather in the 
Fall. 

The opossum is going to become one of the 
important animals in fur-farming for various 
reasons: They are prolific breeders, bringing 
forth from 6 to 12 at a litter; grow rapidly; 
are easily fed and eat a great variety of food. 

The opossum raiser has two sources of reve- 



112 



FUR FARMING. 




j^V^A^-:-^^ 



OPOSSUM RAISING. 113 

nue — fur and carcass. There is a ready market 
for the carcasses in all cities. The grower 
should make arrangements with butchers and 
others to take so many carcasses on a certain 
date. The fur is at its best from about Thanks- 
giving to the middle of February. Thanksgiv- 
ing, Christmas and New Years are three holi- 
days when the fur will be prime and the meat 
in demand. In cities like New York, Boston, 
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg, Buffalo, 
Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, In- 
dianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Omaha, Des 
Moines, Kansas City, St. Louis, etc., a market, 
can be had in each for large quantities at each 
of these holidays, as well as considerable quan- 
tities each week during the winter months. In 
the smaller places, from 5000 up, there will be 
found a demand for the meat, so that the mar- 
ket for the carcasses as well as fur, is one that 
will always be open. Prices at which the car- 
casses sell will of course vary, depending to some 
extent upon the supply of other meats, as well as 
the times, etc. 

When it is taken into consideration that the 
litters are large ; that they eat cheap food ; their 
growth is rapid and that the pelt is extra, does 
not this animal promise to lead as a money 
maker over some of the other and higher priced 
fur-producers? 

8 



114 FUR FARMING. 

In the latitude of West Virginia, the young 
are born about the middle of April. In two 
months, or by June fifteenth, they are about the 
size of rats and alwa^^s "gaining." Six months 
later, or December fifteenth, if well fed and cared 
for, they will Aveigh from nine to fifteen pounds. 
By this it will be seen that at only eight months 
old — born April fifteenth and killed December 
fifteenth — they have attained sizes ranging from 
medium to large. 

The males should be kept, by themselves, at 
least from the time the young are born, until 
they are two months of age or older. The fe- 
male, with her large family, should be given 
plenty of food from the time the young are a few 
days old until Aveaued, as she requires a great 
deal of food to satisfy her cravings and to supply 
the numerous young. 

As the severe weather is over by the time the 
young are born, very good places for the old can 
be made in boxes, old logs and the like. These 
should be so placed and constructed that food can 
be given to the female handily, so as not to dis- 
turb ker and the young more than necessary. 



CHAPTER IX. 

MUSKRAT RAISING. ^ 

CHE muskrat is one of our most common 
fur-bearing- animals and is found in 
greater numbers than any other animal, 
notwithstanding its fur is very popular 
and is gradually increasing in value. 

Muskrats are found throughout the greater 
part of the United States and Canada, but for 
various reasons are more plentiful in certain 
sections. Being water animals they are found 
in greater numbers in marshy places, on ponds 
and lakes and sluggish rivers, but also thrive 
and are found in fair numbers on the smaller 
and more rapid streams. They are very plenti- 
ful in Western Canada and especially in the 
marshy country lying west of Hudson's Bay. In 
the salt water marshes of Delaware and jMary- 
land they are probably found in greater num- 
bers than in any other part of the world. There, 
hundreds of the houses of these little creatures 
may be seen in every direction. 

It is said that the value of the catch from 
Dorchester County, Md., will ususally run to 
$20,000 a year and in some seasons reaches al- 

115 



116 FUR FARMING. 

most to 150,000. The number of animals re- 
quired to reach such a figure must necessarily 
be very large and the number of muskrats found 
in that locality may be judged from the fact that 
the open season for these animals and the only 
time of year when tlie^^ are trapped, is during 
tlie months of January, February and March. 
They are also very plentiful in the marshes along 
the western shore of Lake Erie and about Lake 
Champlain. They are not found on ])arts of the 
Pacific Coast and portions of the South and 
never range south of the State of Arizona. 

While there is only one species of the musk- 
rat, naturalists find several varieties differing 
mainly in size and color. For instance, there is 
the southern muskrat, whicli is comparatively 
small and is dull sooty in color, found in the 
lower Mississippi Valley and along the coasts of 
^Mississippi and Alabama; then there is the Dis- 
mal Swamp Muskrat of the Dismal Swamp, Va., 
which is larger, darker and richer colored than 
the common variety and has larger teeth. In 
Labrador a small and very dark variety is found. 

The muskrat of the Northwest, Avhile of the 
same variety as those of the Central and East- 
ern districts, are small and thin skinned and 
as a consequence are less valuable. What causes 
this difference in size is not known, but it is 
supposed to be due either to the presence of alkali 



MUSKRAT RAISING. 



117 




118 FUR FARMING.. 

in most of the NortliAvesterii Avaters or to the 
scanty and poor quality of its natural food. 

The popularity of muskrat fur is on the in- 
crease, while large numbers are exported to for- 
eign countries, it is being more and more used in 
the United States and Canada. At present it is 
much used for lining ladies coats and its rich 
appearance when used in this way seems certain 
to increase its popularity. It is also dyed and 
is then knoAvn as electric seal and French seal. 

The great demand for the fur during the past 
two seasons has resulted in such persistent hunt- 
ing and trapping that the number of animals in 
many sections has decreased visibly and as a con- 
sequence the spring catch has been comparatively 
light. 

Just before this book went to press, consider- 
able inquiry was made about the supply of raw 
far the past season. The general report was 
that the catch of Spring Rats in 1909 was per 
liaps not more than 25% what it was the year 
prior. The fall catch of 1908 and the winter 
catch of 1908-9 was quite heavy. 

From this it appears that tlie high prices of 
uiuskrat during tlie months of October, Novem- 
ber and December, 1908, caused an unusual 
number of hunters and trappers to seek these 
animals. The consequence being that they were 
caught off much closer than ever before. 



MUSKRAT RAISING. 119 

To further bear this out, dealers saj that in 
man}^ of the Central States where last year they 
collected 20,000 during- ]\[arch and April, this 
year they only secured 4000 or 5000. Trappers 
say that there are very few niuskrats left in cer- 
tain localities. This shows that continued trap- 
ping will practically exterminate the muskrat. 

Along the Atlantic Coast south from New 
York for hundreds of miles the marshes along 
the coast, bays, rivers and creeks are literally 
alive witlj muskrats. The marsh owners farm 
out the "rat catching" privileges, usually on the 
halves. The State of Delaware protects the rats 
some eight or nine months each year. There 
are laws in several other states protecting these 
animals. A few states prohibit the destroying 
of rat houses at all times. 

While hundreds of people follow rat catching 
along the marshes the owners and state see that 
enough are left for breeding and replenishing the 
marshes. They get their food from the flags and 
other weeds largely, Avhich flourish in these 
swamps. Fifty acres of "swamp" has been 
knov>^n to furnish 2000 rats or fifty per acre year 
after year. 

In this section black muskrats are not uncom- 
mon, the catch some seasons running as high as 
40% black, but as a rule it is lower. What 
causes this strange color phase is unknown. 



120 FUR FARMING. 

Black muskrats are met with occasionally in 
other sections bnt nowhere is the proportion as 
large as along the East Coast. 

What nature in a way does for the mnskrat 
in the Eastern swamps, fur raisers can help to 
accomplish in hundreds of localities throughout 
America. There are scores of ponds, small lakes, 
swamps, etc., in ])ractically all states where the 
muskrat is found that can be made to yield large 
profits from muskrats. They are easily raised, 
in fact, Ayill raise themselyes if giyen "half a 
chance." 

There is no doubt whateyer that the fur of 
this aninml will steadily increase in yalue. 
While there will be fluctuations as in the past, 
we do not belieye that prices Ayill eyer go as low 
as the}' were some years ago. Our conclusions 
in this are based on the fact that the catch is 
growing smaller and the popularity of furs for 
wearing apiiarel and especially muskrat fur, is 
steadily increasing, also the population of all 
countries groA\'s larger each year and there is 
bound to be a steady demand for furs. 

Another thing worthy of consideration is the 
fact that the flesh of the muskrat has become a 
yery i^opular dish in many of the Eastern cities 
and there is a market for the carcass of the ani- 
mal. The trappers of ^Maryland and Delaware 
And ready sale for the flesh. 



MUSKRAT RAISING. 121 

The miiskrats found on the East Coast as 
well as those found in the marshes and the shal- 
low lakes and ponds of other parts of the 
country are of the house building kind. It 
should be understood, however, that the muskrat 
living, in houses and those living in burrows in 
the banks of streams are the same variety, their 
different styles of habitation being due to the 
different conditions of their respective locations. 
Where streams are swift or where there is danger 
of the houses being carried away by freshets, 
they dig burrows in the bank, making the 
entrance below the surface of the Avater. 

These burrows extend sometimes twenty-five 
or thirty feet into the bank and the interior 
chamber is sometimes quite large. Along the 
streams of the farming sections, much damage 
is done by muskrats because of these burrows. 

The houses of the marsh-dwellers are com- 
posed of grass and flags, grass roots, mud, etc. 
They are of cone shaped structure and to those 
unacquainted Avith the animals, they are simply 
piles of grass and weeds in the water, for that 
is what they resemble. The entrances to these 
houses are always deep under water. It is said 
that the muskrats build their houses with thicker 
walls when they feel instinctively that an un- 
usually severe winter is approaching. 

In addition to the house the animals build 



122 



FUR FARMING. 




MUSKRAT RAISING. 128 

small feeding places near by. These feed beds 
as they are called, are constructed in the same 
way as the houses, but only rise to the level of 
ihe A\ ater. These beds are the dining rooms of 
the muskrats, for to them they bring all of their 
food so til at they may have a place to rest while 
they are enjoying their meal. They also have 
like the raccoon, a habit of washing their food 
bi-fore they will eat it. 

The muskrat is a vegetarian and seldom eats 
any animal food. In the wild state their natural 
fond is grass and roots, fruit, grain and clams 
or mussels. They are also fond of parsnips, car- 
rots, artichokes, white flag roots, Avild rice, pond 
lily roots, sweet corn and pumpkin, and will eat 
almost all kinds of vegetables. 

It will be seen that in captivity the food 
problem would be easily solved. They are very 
fond of wild rice, and those who have ponds 
suitable for muskrats and are contemplating 
the raising of these animals would do well to 
sow them with wild rice. The rice may be ob- 
tained from almost any of the seed houses and 
it will grow in six or eight feet of water. They 
are also fond of pumpkins and it is a cheap and 
satisfactory food. 

Some of them Avill lay up stores of food for 
winter, but they do not all do this. Where the 
streams are rapid they can get out to hunt for 



124 FUR FARMING. 

food at almost all times, and where they are 
located on lakes and marshes that freeze over 
in winter they can find plenty of food in the 
water under the ice. This food is taken to the 
feed bed to be eaten. 

In early spring the A^ armth from their bodies 
will sometimes thaw^ a hole through the ice over 
tlie bed and the muskrat stops this liole with 
grass roots, etc. The trapper is looking for 
just such i)laces and it is the bunch of grass 
roots on the ice that gives them away. Tlie 
steel trap is soon in place, awaiting the coming 
of the animal, and many of them are trapped 
in this way. 

The breeding habits of the muskrat are dif- 
ferent from those of other fur-bearing animals, 
as they will have three litters in a season. The 
first are born in April, and there will be from 
six to nine young. It is claimed that the female 
of the first litter will also bear young that season 
and this accounts for tlie small rats, or kits, 
caught dui'ing the fall season. 

It woukl appear from this that the animals 
should increase in numbers very rapidl^^, but 
th(\v have many enemies other than man, and 
perhaps one-half of the muskrats born in a 
season never reach maturity. With the excep- 
tion of nmn, their greatest enemies are the birds 
of prey, such as owls, hawks, buzzards, etc., but 



MUSKRAT RAISING. 125 

chiefly the owl, as it is a nocturnal bird and has 
a fine opportunity to capture the unwary. The 
fox frequently makes a capture, as does also the 
mink and otter. 

It is a deplorable fact that there is a large 
proportion of small animals in the trapper's 
catch. These are the young muskrats, for while 
they grow rapidly the first summer, it requires 
several years for them to attain full size, yet 
they class as No. 1 the first season. The old 
animals are larger and their fur is more val- 
uable tlum that of the young. For those who 
raise the animals there would be less trouble 
from catching j^oung and immature rats. 

Muskrats do not become fully prime until 
midwinter and many of them are not strictly 
number one until March. When fully prime the 
skin will be of a cream or pink color, with no 
dark spots showing. Winter caught skins will 
have a number of dark spots, while those taken 
in the fall have a very pronounced stripe or two 
on the back. 

Along the Atlantic Coast for many years 
land owners have rented' the rat catching 
privileges to ''ratters" on shares, which is gen- 
erally one-half of the catch. The "ratters" only 
trap when the fur is at its best, so that the sup- 
ply is holding out. On lands "free for all" the 
rats are thinned out. 



126 FUR FARMING. 

During recent years, property owners in 
various rat producing sections have awakened 
to the fact that their "swampy land" is of more 
value for the animal fur harvest than for any 
other purpose. 

Muskrats are easily raised and increase 
rapidly. They often make their homes in the 
banks of canals, fish ponds,, etc., coming from 
nearby waters of their own accord. These places 
seem to be ideal places for muskrats and instead 
of their leaving they remain year after year, 
even though they are trapped and the property 
owners resort to other means endeavoring to 
get rid of them. Muskrats are not afraid of 
civilization, and do well in thickly settled sec- 
tions where there are rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, 
marshes, etc. They seem to do well in their 
natural state where they have water and feed 
and on some ponds hundreds are caught 
annually. 

As already mentioned, these animals need 
little care. If the waters Avhere the animals are 
is naturally productive of muskrat food, the 
animals will take care of themselves unless the 
numbers are too large and they consume the 
entire food sup.ply. The raisers should guard 
against this by feeding, as the natural supply 
should be protected so as to help furnish the 
food supply year after year. 



MUSKRAT RAISING. 127 

Lakes, ponds, etc., that abound in wild rice, 
flags, lilies, etc., make an ideal home for musk- 
rats, as they are fond of both the wild rice seed 
and roots, as well as the roots of flags and lilies, 
on which they feed when the surface is frozen 
over. Artichokes should also be started, as 
muskrats are fond of them. 

Those who expect to raise this fur-bearer 
should take into consideration that little or no 
fencing is required on lakes, ponds and creeks 
if proper feed grows there. If the feed is not 
there the prospective raiser should see that it is 
started at once by sowing wild rice seed, trans- 
planting some flags and lily roots to his muskrat 
waters. In fact, the prospective muskrat raiser 
should have the food supply . well under way 
before the rats are brought or secured or they 
will destroy it. 

There are no doubt hundreds of places that 
can be converted into ideal "muskrat preserves" 
by a little work. Low, marshy land on which 
the water is not deep enough to be dammed. 
Such a place would require a wire fence around 
it. Perhaps the best way would be to place the 
fence several rods back from the water, as there 
would then be no danger of the animals burrow- 
ing under. The fence should be of five-foot wire, 
one foot in the ground. Where the fence crosses 
any inlets or outlets, the wire should be put 



128 FUR FARMING. 

much deeper for two rods or more on each side 
and it would be well to place flat stones in the 
bottom of the trench, as shown and described 
in the chapter on Enclosures. 



CHAPTER X. 

RACCOON RAISING. 

CHE raccoon is closely allied to the bears, 
although much smaller. Like them it 
possesses an omnivorous appetite, is 
plantigrade, and hibernates during cold 
weather. It is found throughout the Southern, 
Central and Eastern States, and in Southern 
Ontario and Nova Scotia. It is also found in 
good numbers on the Pacific coast, northward 
into British Columbia; but they are found in 
greatest numbers in the extreme South of the 
United States,, and especially in Florida, Louis- 
iana and the lowlands of Arkansas and Texas. 

Their natural home is in the heavily timbered 
parts, but they are also found in the sparsely 
wooded bottom lands of the Central States. 

They den, as a rule, in hollow trees, well up 
from the ground, and seldom if ever in a tree 
which has a continuous hollow and an opening 
at the bottom, preferring a hollow, broken off 
limb, or a hole in the trunk, high up on the tree. 
In some places they den in natural caves in the 
rocks, and in the western part of their range, 
it is said that they sometimes occupy dens in 
some high and dry bank of earth. During the 

9 129 



130 FUR FARMING. 

mating- season the males travel considerably, 
and Avill, wlien daylight approaches, seek a place 
of rest in any hollow tree that is to be found, 
or failing to find this, may spend the day in a 
hollow log or under a stump. 

The mating season comes mainly, late in 
February or early in March, and the young, from 
four to six in number, are born in April and the 
beginning of May. They remain with the parents 
for some time during the summer, but will find 
a den for themselves as soon as possible. How- 
ever, they will be found, the first season, in the 
near vicinity of the parents' den. 

The food of the coon is variable, to conform 
with conditions of different sections, but 
Avherever found, they feed on both vegetxible and 
animal food. Fish, frogs, crawfish, clams, eggs 
of birds, and turtles; water snails, wild fruits, 
such as grapes and. berries, nuts, acorns, etc., 
are all eaten with a relish. They are especially 
fond of corn when in the milk}^ state, and in late 
summer they feed on it extensively. They are 
fond of poultry, also of honey, and will dig out 
the nests of bumble bees when they find them, 
for the sake of the little bit of "sweet" which is 
found therein. 

They are nocturnal animals and are seldom 
seen by daylight. In their travels they follow 
the streams mostly, and catch fish by feeling 



RACCOON RAISING. 131 

under the stones in shallow water. Whenever 
possible, they wash their food before eating. 

The raccoon has a peculiar cry, which is 
heard sometimes, on still nights, during the sum- 
mer. It is a quavering note somewhat resembling 
that of the screech oavI, but lower and softer, 
and seems to come from a distance, though reall}^ 
close by. To one inexperienced in the ways of 
this animal, the cry would not be recognized. 

The fur of the raccoon meets Avith ready sale 
at fair prices, and tliere is also sale for the flesh 
in many markets. There is considerable dif- 
ference in color in individual animals, some of 
them being very dark, and others quite pale. 
Of course the northern animals are more heavily 
furred than those of tlie south. 

The darker and larger specimens, as a rule, are 
secured in the northern states — Xew York, 
Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio, Northern Indiana, 
Northern Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- 
sota and the Northwest. The greatest numbers, 
but smaller and lighter colored, are secured from 
the southern states, those bordering on the Gulf 
of Mexico, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and 
Kentucky. 

While raccoon can be raised in nearly all 
parts of America, the best furred specimens 
can only be raised where the climate is produc- 
tive of good fur, — say north of 40 degrees. This 



182 FUR FARMING. 

would be on a line passing through Philadelphia, 
south of Pittsburg, just north of Columbus, 
through Central Indiana and Illinois, northern 
iMissouri, boundary between Kansas and Ne- 
braska, north of Denver, and on to the Pacific 
Ocean. 

It is not meant that coon cannot be profitably 
raised south of this line indicated, for they can. 
The chances, however, are that far south of the 
line mentioned, the skins would not be as val- 
uable and being nearer the coon-producing sec- 
tion, there would not be as ready a market for 
the carcasses. 

The coon raiser should secure good dark 
males and females for breeding purposes, from 
northern sections. If unable to do this, a good 
male or two crossed with the females, would 
lielp to produce larger and darker animals. This 
is important, as the larger and darker the pelt, 
the more valuable, and the larger the carcass the 
more it brings. 

That raccoons do well in captivity is well 
known from the many kept in zoos, parks, etc. 
Countless ' numbers have been caught while 
young, when they soon become tame and inter- 
esting pets. Even those caught when grown, 
soon become accustomed to their owners and 
keepers. They can be handled and become amus- 
ing pets. They know strangers and will often 



haccoon raising. 133 

put their paws over their eyes and look between 
their toes, thinking perhaps, that the stranger 
cannot see them, Awhile tlieir paws are over their 
eyes. 

Large numbers of raccoons could be raised 
by fencing in a piece of woods, embracing a few 
acres, with a creek running through. If the 
fence was considerable distance from the edge 
of the woods, it is doubtful if the animals would 
make much effort to escape. The places they 
would be apt to frequent the most, w^ould be 
where the stream entered and left the enclosure. 
Ae these places the fence should be extra high, 
strong and secure. 

The raccoon and opossum farmer have a 
double advantage where their ^'farm" is situated 
near a city. First, if the fur farm is one con- 
taining a large number of animals, the supplying 
of food will be quite a probleui and tlie city 
offers a means of plenty and cheap food for your 
animals, such as offals from slaughter houses 
and other feed. Second, the city offers a market 
for the meat at "killing time''. 

While raccoon will eat decayed meat to some 
extent, it should be furnished them fresh, in 
which condition it is much better for them. 
Most animals will eat carrion, yet it is doubtful 
if it is advisable to feed when in such condition. 
Putrid flesh is unhealthy and some claim, causes 



134 



FUR FARMING. 



fur-bearing animals to become affected with 
mange. 

Kaccoon are naturally a clean animal, and 
in their wild state are particular that their food 
is clean. They seldom, if ever, eat left-over food 
or flesh that has become tainted. 

That raccoon raising promises well is borne 
out from the fact that they are easily handled, 
eat a variety of food easily secured, and their 
fur and meat both have a readv cash market. 




Barrel Shelter for Female and Young. 



The pelt of a full grown and dark raccoon is 
worth from $1.00 to |2.00, depending upon the 
section; to this add from 40c to 75c for the 
carcass and it will be seen that the raccoon brings 
to its owner |1.40 to $2.50 or upwards. This 
price is for the better grade. The smaller and 
lighter colored skins from the more southerly 
sections, will perhaps only bring two-thirds as 
much — 75 cents to $1.50 for the pelts and 25 to 
50 cents for the carcass. 



RACCOON RAISING. 



135 



At what other '^iranch of farming" is there 
greater profit? No one is going to become im- 
mensely rich ^'at coon raising" in a few years, 
but if they enter the business and give the same 
attention and care to it that they would to 
poultry, sheep, horses and cattle, there is reason 
to believe that the profits will be as large if not 
larger. Again, the person who loves the hand- 




Fur Farm on Open Ground. 

ling of fur-bearing animals will be making his 
living at the business he enjoys most. 

Those who expect to raise coon in a small 
enclosure, should have the Avire turned in several 
feet at the top, or the chances are they will fol- 
low along the under side to the edge and thus 
escape. In the enclosure for raccoon, the strip 
of tin around the fence some three or four feet 
high is strongly recommended. There should be 
some logs, dens, and low, branchy trees for the 



136 * FUB FARMING. 

animals to play in is to their liking. The more 
liomelike their enclosure, the sooner they become 
contented. This means tliat they grow faster, 
which is all to the financial interest of the coon 
raiser. 

An enclosure of several acres for coon, 
taking in trees suitable for dens, could be used 
for fox raising as well. The coon would raise 
their young in the "den trees" and therefore 
would not bother the foxes, as those having 
young would be in pens. The male foxes having 
access to the entire enclosure might steal the 
feed for the female coon left at the roots of the 
den trees. Should there be trouble on this point, 
the food could be placed on a platform against 
the body of the tree out of reach of the foxes. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE BEAVER AND OTTER. 

CHESE two very important fur-bearing 
animals were once quite numerous 
throughout practically the whole of the 
United States and Canada, but because 
of the persistency with which they were hunted, 
have become rare in many of the sections where 
they were once found in abundance. Especially 
is this true of the beaver. Almost all of the 
states in which beavers are still found, as well 
as the various provinces of Canada, have made 
laws to protect these animals, but they are still 
hunted and trapped, and the day is not far dis- 
tant when the beaver will be extinct. 

The otter is a more wary animal than the 
beaver, and as a consequence will linger within 
the bounds of civilization long after the beaver 
has disappeared, but for all this they are becom- 
ing very rare in most of the settled sections. As 
these animals both belong to different orders 
and their habits are entirely different, it will be 
necessary to take up each separately. 

The Beaver. — As before mentioned, the 
beaver has become extinct in many sections 

137 



138 FUB FARMING. 

where it was once found, and at present tlie^^ are 
practically confined to Canada, Alaska, the 
Northern States and the Western mountain 
regions. A few are still found in the more iso- 
lated portions of the South, but there they are 
quite rare except in a few small sections. Thru- 
out the Central and many of the Eastern and 
Southern States, they have entirely disappeared. 
There is only one species of the beaver, but there 
are several varieties, all of which are very much 
alike in appearance and the habits of all are the 
same, except where it is changed because of dif- 
ference in food, climate, etc. 

The beaver has always been an interesting 
animal, not only to those directly interested in 
furs, but to all others, and practically everybody 
knows something regarding the habits of the 
animal. One of their most remarkable habits 
is that of building dams on the stream, or at 
the outlet of the pond or lake on which they are 
located. These dams are intended to regulate 
the height of the water. They will vary from 
two to five feet in height, and from twenty to 
one hundred yards in length, according to the 
size of the stream and the nature of the shores. 

The dams are composed of sticks and chunks 
of wood, stones, sods, etc. They always watch 
the dam closely and keep it in repair, and each 
fall it is strengthened by adding new material. 



THE BEAVER AND OTTER. 189 

In addition to the main dam there are, as a rule, 
one or more smaller dams built lower down 
stream. What these small dams are for is not 
known for a certainty, but sometimes, when the 
lower dam backs the water up to the large one, 
the beavers will, in the fall after the ice has 
formed, dig a passage through the upper dam, 
which allows the water to fall and leaves an air 
space between the water and the ice, and it is 
perliaps for this reason that the smaller dams 
are constructed. 

Somewhere on tlie edge of the pool where the 
\\'ater is not too deep, the beavers make tlieir 
lodge, or house. These houses sometimes rise 
eight feet above the Avater and will measure 
fifteen feet in diameter. They are constructed 
of the same materials as used for the dam, and 
are always repaired and strengthened before 
freezing weather comes. There are two en- 
trances to the house and they are always located 
deep under water. 

Tlie food of the beaver consists principally 
of bark of poplar, birch, willow, cottonwood, 
alder and wild cherry. They are also fond of 
the roots of the water lily. In the South it is 
said that they quite often feed on corn, when 
located near the farms. They would doubtless 
eat many kinds of roots and vegetables if same 
could be procured. In some few sections, where 



140 FUR FARMING. 

the nature of the stream is such that houses and 
dams are not a success, the beavers live in holes 
in the bank of the stream and are called "bank 
beavers'' ; however, they are the same variety as 
the house building kind. 

In the Northern districts, where the ponds 
are covered with ice six utonths of the year, the 
beavers spend the entire winter under the ice. 
For this long period of imprisonment they must 
lay up a large store of food. This food consists 
of small, green saplings and brush, cut into 
suitable lengths and stored under water, in front 
of the house. They eat only the bark and the 
peeled sticks are used to repair the house and 
dam. The young beavers are born in April and 
May and there are usually only two at a birth, 
but sometimes there will be three. These young 
animals remain two years with the parents, so 
that a full family will consist of the two old 
ones, two or three medium size and two or three 
small beavers. However, there are "bachelor 
beavers", old males Avho always live alone, and 
have a small house somewhere along the shore 
of a stream or pond. 

It was the beaver that was most sought by 
the early trappers, for the fur was more in de- 
mand than the fur of any other animal. At 
present it is not as popular as in days of old, 
but we do not believe that its value will de- 



THE BEAVER AND OTTER. 141 

crease, as the catch becomes lighter each suc- 
ceeding year. The skins do not become prime 
as early as those of some other animals, but are 
in good condition in advance of the muskrat. 
The fur of the beaver, otter, muskrat and bear 
remains in good condition until late in the 
spring. 

During the summer months many of the 
beavers travel about on the streams and if a 
house is found at this time it may be deserted, 
or at the best, only one or two animals will be 
found there. As fall approaches, they all re- 
turn to the lodge and from that time until the 
water is frozen they ^^'ill be hard at work laying 
up the winter's store of food. 

The Otter. — The otter is occasionally met 
with in almost all parts of North America, in 
some places fairly plentiful, in others very rare, 
but they are found in greatest numbers in the 
swamps of some of the Southern States, and in 
the wilder portions of Canada, Alaska and New- 
foundland. There are two species, the common 
otter and the sea otter, which latter is only 
found in the North Pacific and is now quite rare. 
Of the common otter there are some three or 
four varieties, differing only in size and color. 
The habits of the otter are very little known by 
the average man, and many of the trappers know 
little about this animal. They are rambling 



142 FUR FARMING. 

animals, traveling the streams and lakes for 
great distances. They will travel sometimes ten 
or fifteen miles to visit some certain lake and 
perhaps will only stay there over night. Again, 
if undisturbed, they may remain for a month 
or more on some small pond. 

They are on very friendly terms with the 
beaver and will frequently spend several weeks or 
months with a beaver family, apparently living 
in the same house. If an otter knows the loca- 
tion of two or more families of beavers, it will 
spend practically all of its time with one or 
other of the beaver families, or may make 
frequent visits from one to the other. 

The otter is an exceedingly active animal 
and is so much at home in the water that it is 
able to catch fish with ease, and they are its 
principal food. Where fish are plentiful, they 
Avill kill them merely for pleasure, and what 
they can not eat, they will store up in some little 
bay or inlet along the shore. These, however, 
are not placed there for future use, as the otter 
will only eat food that is strictly fresh. Besides 
fish, they also eat large numbers of frogs, which 
are easily secured. Tliey also eat muskrats and 
sometimes surprise these animals by coming up 
into the houses from below, thus preventing the 
inmates from escaping. 

The otter does not travel much on land, ex- 



THE BEAVER AND OTTER. 143 

cept when crossing country from one lake or 
stream to another. Their bodies being long and 
their legs short, walking is, for them, rather 
difficult and their mode of locomotion is a series 
of plunging leaps. On the snow or ice they move 
along rapidly by tli rowing themselves forward, 
sliding on their bellies. They are very playful 
animals and sometimes amuse themselves by 
sliding down a slipperj^ bank. They also have 
landing places where they go to roll in the leaves 
and grass. In the spring they often lay for hours 
on some old log by the side of the stream, bask- 
ing in the warm sun. They can remain a long 
time under water, and in winter travel long 
distances under the ice, — in fact, they prefer to 
travel this way whenever possible. 

The home of the otter is a burrow in the bank 
of a stream, the entrance under water. At the 
end of the burrow is a nest lined with leaves 
and grass. They also, sometimes, den in hollow 
logs and the trunks of hollow trees. The dens 
are always located in the most secluded places, 
as far as possible removed from danger of dis- 
covery. The young are born in April or May 
and the number is from two to four. 

With regard to raising the beaver and otter 
for profit, we will say that there has been com- 
paratively few attempts at the business and we 
are unable to get any authentic data with regard 



144 FUR FARMING. 

to these experiments. However, the animals do 
well in captivity, in zoos, and when kept by 
private individuals, as pets, and it is our opinion 
that if one will but go slowly and learn the 
habits and nature of the animals, a fair degree 
of success may be attained. It should be under- 
stood that conditions must be favorable and the 
animals should be given a range as nearly like 
their natural home as possible. Of course, one 
could not make a success of raising beavers in 
an open field. They must have wooded land 
where their natural food, quaking aspen (some- 
times poplar), birch, willow, cottonwood, alder, 
is plentiful. A pool on some quiet little stream, 
bordered by a large tract of forest, would be the 
proper place. Beavers are not given to roam- 
ing, except during the summer months, and in 
such cases they always return to their home 
before cold weather comes. 

We believe that the animals could not be 
raised successfully by any of the plans recom- 
mended for the rearing of other fur-bearing 
animals, but should simply be placed in a large 
enclosure, in the proper location, and allowed 
to take care of themselves. The animals will 
breed perfectly without any attention and there 
will be no danger of them killing their offspring, 
as is the case with other fur bearers. There is 
no doubt that the beaver and the otter will do 



THE BEAVER AND OTTER. 145 

well in the same enclosure, for in the wild state 
they are very socia])le and are fond of one 
another's company. 

If otters are kept in an enclosed pond, it 
will be necessary to keep them supplied with 
food, and perhaps the best way would be to keep 
tlie ponds stocked with live fish and frogs. With 
the beaver the matter of providing food is more 
simple, as it A\ill only be necessary to make the 
enclosure where tlieir natural food is found in 
abundance. 



10 



CHAPTER XII. 

KILLING^ SKINNING AND STRETCHING. 

lyijr bHEN ^^dlliiig time" comes, care should 
M A I ^^ taken to not frighten the aninmls 
^^Lp left for breeding purposes more than 
^^^ is absoluteh^ necessar3^ All animals 
that are tame enough should be driven into a 
separate enclosure and out of sight of the others 
before being killed. Perhaps as good a method 
of killing as anj^ is to use a good club, striking on 
the head just over the eyes or ears. 

The above method is not for skunk, as they 
should be killed without the enclosure becoming 
so strongly scented. A pole several feet long 
with a strong loop on the end can be slipped 
over their head and well back on the neck. The 
animal can now be lifted clear ofT the ground 
and carried wherever the killing is desired. If 
the killer does not mind a little perfume he 
knocks them on the head, or if a barrel of water 
is handy they can be drowned and few scent. 
The drowning, however, is not recommended, as 
it takes the fur hours to dry and is therefore 
extra work. Some even claim that the water 
spoils the luster of the fur to a certain extent. 

146 



KILLING, SKINNING AND STRETCHING. 147 

Some animals, such as coon and skunk, do 
not leave their dens during severe weather, so 
that it is advisable to begin selecting those that 
are to be killed days and even weeks in advance 
of the time decided upon. These should be placed 
in an enclosure or pen by themselves so that the 
remaining ones will not be disturbed. 

Even those animals that come out to their 
feed regularly during tlie cold days should be 
handled in a similar manner so as not to disturb 
those to be kept. 

The animals that are to be kept for breeding 
purposes need not be fed so heavilv during the 
winter months or after those that were intended 
for market have been killed. Of course in the 
spring after the females have young, they must 
be fed heavily. 

Some raisers, as soon as the young are 
weaned, select those that are to be killed the 
coming winter, keeping them separate from the 
breeding stock so that they can be fed properly. 
That is a great saving of food, as those for mar- 
ket should be fed much more than the breeders 
at this season — say during the months of Sep- 
tember, October and November. 

Much importance should be attached to the 
skinning and stretching of all kinds of skins so 
as to command the highest commercial value. 
The otter, foxes, marten, mink, opossum, civet 



148 PUR FARMING. 

and skunk should be cased, that is, taken off 
Avhole. 

Commence with the knife in the center of 
one hind foot and slit up the inside of the leg, 
up to and around the vent and down the other 
leg in a like manner. Cut around the vent, 
taking care not to cut the lumps or glands in 
which the musk of certain animals is secreted; 
then strip the skin from the bone of the tail 
with the aid of a. split stick gripped firmly in 
the hand while the thumb of the other hand 
presses against the animaFs back just above. 
Make no other slits in the skin, except in the 
case of the skunk or otter, whose tails require 
to be split, spread, and tacked on a board. 

Turn the skin back over the body, leaving 
the pelt side out and the fur side inward, and by 
cutting a few ligaments, it will peel off very 
readily. Care should be taken to cut closely 
around the nose, ears and lips, so as not to tear 
the skin. 

The beaver and raccoon should be skinned 
open; that is, ripped up the belly from vent to 
chin after the folloAving manner: Cut across 
the hind leg as if to be "cased" and then rip up 
the belly. The skin can then be removed by 
flaying as in skinning a beef. 

Many inexperienced trappers stretch coon 
skins too long and draw out the head and neck. 



KILLING, SKINNING AND STRETCHING. 149 

This can be avoided. Coon can be cased but 
most dealers prefer to have them stretched open. 

Yon should have about three sizes of stretch- 
ing boards for mink and fox. For mink they 
sliould be 4^ inches down to 3 inches and for 
fox from 6 J inches down to 5 inches Avide; in 
length the fox boards ma^^ be 4 feet and the mink 
])oards 3 feet. 

The boards should taper slightly down to 
within 8 inches of the end for fox, and then 
rounded up to a round point. The mink boards 
should be rounded at 4 or 5 inches from tliis 
])oint. You will vary the shape of the board in 
proportion to the width. Stretching boards 
should not be more than J inch thick. Have the 
boards smooth and even on the edges. Other 
stretching ^boards should be made in proportion 
to the size and shape of the animal whose skin 
is to be stretched. 

You should not fail to remove all the fat and 
flesh from the skin immediately after the skin 
is on the board. If a skin is wet Avhen taken 
from the animal, it should be drawn lightly on 
a board until the fur is quite dry. Then turn 
the skin flesh side out and stretch. 

Do not dry skins at a fire nor in the sun, nor 
in smoke. It often burns them, when they will 
not dress and are of no value. Dry in a well- 
covered shed or tent where there is a free cir- 



150 FUR FARMING. 

culation of air, and never nse any preparation, 
such as alum and salt, as it only injures them 
for market. Never stretch the noses out long, 
as some trappers are inclined to do, but treat 
them as above described, and they will command 
better values. Fur buyers and dealers are in- 
clined to class long nosed skins as "southern" 
and pay a small price for them, as southern skins 
are so much lighter than those of the north, in 
fur. 

Poxes of the various kinds should be cased 
and put on boards fur side in for a few days, or 
u.ntil dry. As the pelt is thin, they soon dry, 
when they must be taken off and should be 
turned fur side out. In shipping, see that they 
are not packed against furs flesh side out. 

Skunk should be cased fur side in, and 
stretched on boards for several days. The white 
stripe cut out, blackened, etc., reduces the value. 

Mink should be cased fur side in and 
stretched on boards for several days or until dry. 

Muskrat should be stretched fur side in, and 
a few days on the board will be sufficient. They 
are left as taken off, that is, fur side in. Cut 
the tails off when skinning — they are worthless. 

Opossum are stretched on boards fur side in 
and are left in that condition after remoying 
the boards. Cut the tails off when skinning — 
thev have no value, 



KILLING, SKINNING AND STRETCHING. 151 

Raccoon should be stretched open (ripped 
up the belly), and nailed on boards or the inside 
of a building. Some dealers allow as much for 
coons cased, from any section, while others pre- 
fer that only Southern coon, if any, be cased. 

Otter are cased and stretched fur side in. 
The pelt being thick and heavy, takes several 
days to dry properly. They are shipped flesh 
side out. 

Beaver are split but stretched round and 
should be left in the hoop or stretcher for several 
days. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

DEER FARMING. 

CHIS chapter is from Farmers' Bulletin 
330, issued July 28, 1908, by United 
States Department of Agriculture and 
written by D. E. Lantz, Assistant, Bio- 
logical Survey. 

The term "deer'' is here used in its general 
sense, in which it includes the elk, the reindeer 
or caribou, the moose and other species, besides 
those usually referred to as deer. 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Bureau of Biological Survey, 
Washington, D. C, June S, 1908. 

Sir : I have the honor to transmit the ac- 
compamdng manuscript on the subject of Deer 
Farming in the United States, and to recom- 
mend its publication as Farmers' Bulletin No. 
330. As a result of the growing scarcity of game 
animals in this country the supply of venison is 
wholly inadequate to the demand, and the time 
seems opportune for developing the industry of 
deer farming, which may be made profitable 
alike to the state and the individuals engaged 

152 



DEER FARMING. 153 

therein. The raising of venison for market is as 
kigitimate a business as the growing of beef and 
mutton, and state hiws, when prohibitor}^, as 
many of them are, sliould be so modified as to 
encourage the industry, r'urthermore, deer and 
elk may be raised to advantage in forests and 
on rough, brusliy gi-ound unfitted for either agri- 
culture or stock raising, thus utilizing for profit 
much land that is now waste. An added ad- 
vantage is that the business is well adapted to 
hindowners of small means. 

Kespectfully, 

C. Hart ^Merriam, 
(■h'lef Biological ^nrvctj. 
Hon. Jamks >Vils()X, 

^ccrviarii of A f/ricufl iirc. 

INTRODUCTION. 

The present bulletin discusses briefly the 
economic possibilities of raising deer and elk 
in the United States. It is believed that when 
the restrictions now imposed by State laws are 
removed this business ma}^ be made an important 
and highly profitable industry, especially since 
it will be the means of utilizing much otherwise 
unproductive land. The raising of venison 
should be, and is naturally, as legitimate a busi- 
ness as the growing of beef or mutton, and State 



154 FUR FARMING. 

laws should be so niodifiecl as to permit the pro- 
ducer, who has stocked a preserve Avith deer at 
private expense, to dispose of his product at 
any time, under reasonable regulations, either 
for breeding purposes or for food. 

The growing scarcity of game mammals and 
birds in the United States and the threatened 
extinction of some of them over large parts of 
their present ranges make the preservation of 
the remnant highly important. Very im- 
portant also is the increase of this remnant so 
as to make game once more abundant. It is 
believed that by means of intelligent game 
propagation, both by the states and by private 
enterprise, many of our depleted ranges can be 
restocked with big game. 

IMPORTANCE OF THE DEER FAMILY. 

The members of the deer family (Cervidje) 
rank next to the cattle and sheep family 
(BovidcT) in general utility, and are the most 
important of the big game animals of America. 

Wherever obtainable in quantity the flesh of 
deer of different kinds has always been a staple 
article of diet, and under present market con- 
ditions it is hardly necessary to say that venison 
is perhaps the most important game, being a 
favorite with epicures and also having a wide 



DEER FARMING. 155 

use as a substitute for beef and uiutton, which 
meats it resembles in texture, color, and general 
characteristics. Its flavor is distinctive, though 
it suggests mutton rather than beef. In chem- 
ical composition it is very similar to beef, 
though, judging from available data, it is not so 
fat as stall-fed cattle. The following figures 
show how it compares with beef and mutton : 
A lean venison roast before cooking has been 
found to contain on an average 75 per cent of 
water, 20 per cent of protein or nitrogenous ma- 
terial, and 2 per cent of fat; a lean beef rump, 
some 65 to 70 per cent of water, 20 to 23 per 
cent of protein, and 5 to 14 per cent of fat; a 
lean leg of mutton, 67 per cent of water, 19 per 
cent of protein, and 13 per cent of fat. 

Venison, beef, and other common meats are 
very thoroughly digested, whatever the method 
of cooking. Venison may be roasted, broiled, 
pan-broiled, or used for making stews, in much 
the same way as beef. Venison, particularly 
steak, to be at its best, should be eaten as soon 
as possible after it is cooked. 

The general popularity of venison is so great 
and the demand for it so widespread that over- 
production is improbable. The other products 
of the deer — skins and horns — are of consid- 
erable importance, and in countries where deer 
are abundant and especially where large herds 



156 FUR FARMING. 

are kept in semi-domestication, the commerce 
in both is very extensive. 

THE DOMESTICATION OF DEER. 

A number of species of the deer family have 
been proved to be susceptible to domestication. 
The reindeer, liowever, is the only one that has 
been brought fully under the control of man. 
The fact that the European red deer and the fal- 
low deer have been bred in parks for centuries 
without domestication does not prove that they 
are less susceptible to the process than the rein- 
deer. The purposes for which they have been 
held captive and the environment given them 
liave been markedly different. It must be re- 
membered, also, that few attempts have been 
uiade to rear and domesticate deer under intel- 
ligent management. The work has been largely 
a matter of chance experiment. If they had 
been as long under^ careful management as cat- 
tle, they would novr, probably, be equally plastic 
in the hands of a skillful breeder. 

But raising deer for profit does not neces- 
sarily imjdy their complete domestication. They 
may be kept in large preserves with surround- 
ings as nearly natural as possible and their 
domestication entirely ignored. Thus the breeder 
may reap nearly all the profit that could be ex- 



DEER FARMING. 157 

pected from a domestic herd, while the animals 
escape most of the dangers incident to close cap- 
tivity. But the breeder who aims at the ulti- 
mate domestication of the animals, and whose 
herd approaches nearest to true domesticity, 
will in the end be most successful. 

SPECIES TO BE SELECTED FOR BREEDING. 

The number of species of deer suited for 
breeding in inclosures in the United States is 
great, though the chances for success are by no 
means the same for all. As a rule those native 
to America are to be xjreferred, since they are 
already acclimated. In selecting any species, 
similarity between its natural habitat and that 
to which it is to be transferred must be con- 
sidered. Important, also, is its adaptability to 
varied conditions, as shown by former attempts 
to acclimatize it. 

Unless they have shown a peculiar adapt- 
ability to such change, deer should not be taken 
from arid parts of the United States to humid 
parts. To a disregard of this principle are prob- 
ably due many of the failures that have attended 
experiments in breeding the American antelope, 
the Columbia blacktail deer, the moose, and 
other animals in places differing widely from 
their natural ranges. 



158 FUR FARMING. 

The history of attempts to acclimatize the 
several kinds of deer shows that some readily 
adapt themselves to a great variety of conditions, 
and efforts to introduce them into new countries 
have been almost uniformly successful. Such 
has been the experience with the axis deer, the 
Japanese and Pekin sikas, the red and the fal- 
low deer of Europe, and especially with the 
wapiti, or Rocky Mountain elk, and the Virginia 
deer. While experiments with the foreign spe- 
cies named offer every promise of success to the 
owners of American preserves, there are obvious 
reasons for recommending the two native 
animals just mentioned as best suited for the 
production of venison in the United States. 

THE WAPITI^ OR ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK. 

The Wapiti {Ccrvus canadensis), including 
two related species and a geographic race, and 
known in America as the elk, is, next to the 
moose, the largest of our deer. It was once 
abundant over the greater part of the United 
States, whence its range extended northward to 
about latitude 60° in the Peace River region of 
the interior of Canada. In the United States 
the limits of its range eastward were the Adiron- 
dacks, western New Jersey, and eastern Pennsyl- 
vania; southward it reaches the southern Alle- 



DEER FARMING. ^ 159 

glienies, northern Texas, southern Mexico, and 
Arizona; and westward the Pacific Ocean. 

For the practical purposes of this bulletin all 
the forms of the wajjiti are treated as a single 
species. At the present time the range of these 
animals has so far diminished that they occur 
only in a few scattered localities outside of the 
Yellowstone National Park and the moun- 
tainous country surrounding it, where large 
herds remain. Smaller herds still occur in Col- 
orado, western Montana, Idaho, eastern Oregon, 
Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, and the 
coast mountains of Washington, Oregon, and 
northwestern California. A band of the small 
California valley elk still inhabits the southern 
part of the San Joaquin Valley. 

The herds that suuimer in the Yellowstone 
National Park and in winter spread southward 
and eastward in Wyoming are said to number 
about 30,000 head, and constitute the only large 
bands of this noble game animal that are left. 
Although protected in their summer ranges and 
partialty safeguarded from destruction in winter 
by the State of Wyoming, there is yet great 
danger that these herds may perish from lack 
of food in a succession of severe winters. Par- 
tial provision for winter forage has been made 
within the National Park, but the supply is in- 
adequate for the large number of animals. 



160 FUR FARMING. 

Further safeguards are needed to place the 
Wyoming elk herds beyond the reach of winter 
starvation. 

In addition to the wild herds, there are a 
considerable number of elk in private game pre- 
serves and parks, as well as in nearly all the 
public zoological parks and gardens of this 
country. The herds in captivity form the 
nucleus from which, under wise management, 
some of the former ranges of this animal may 
be restocked and from Avhich a profitable busi- 
ness of growing elk venison for market may be 
developed. At the present time this species af- 
fords a most promising field for ventures in 
breeding for profit. 

Hahits of Elk. 

The elk is both a browsing and a grazing 
animal. While it eats grasses freely and has 
been known to subsist entirely upon pasture, it 
seems to prefer a mixture of grass and browse. 

The elk is extremely polygamous. Tlie adult 
bulls shed their antlers annually in March or 
April, and new ones attain their full size in 
about ninety days. The '^velvet" adheres until 
about August. While the horns are growing the 
bulls usually lead solitary lives; but early in 
September, when the horns are fully matured, 



DEER FARMING. 161 

the rutting season begins. Fights for supremacy 
then take place, and the victor takes charge of 
as many cows as he can round up and control. 
The period of gestation is about 8^ months. 
The female does not usually breed until the 
third year, and produces but one calf at a time. 
Although the elk is less prolific than the com- 
mon deer and some other species that have been 
bred in parks, it increases fully as rapidly as 
the common red deer of Europe. Moreover, it 
makes up for any lack of fecundity by its supe- 
rior hardiness and ease of management. It has 
been acclimatized in many parts of the world, 
and shows the same vigor and hardiness 
wherever it has been transplanted. In Europe 
it has been successfully crossed with Altai wapiti 
and the red deer, and in both instances the off- 
spring were superior in size and general stamina 
to the native stock. 

Elk Venison. 

The fl^esh of. the elk, although somewhat 
coarse, is superior in flavor to most venison. 
That of the bulls is in its best condition about 
the time the velvet is shed. By the time the rut 
is over, in October, their flesh is in the poorest 
condition. As the open season for elk is usually 
in October and November, and only bulls are 

11 



162 FUR FARMING. 

killed, it follows that hunters often obtain the 
venison when it is poorest. The meat is not best 
when freshly killed, but should be left hanging 
for four or five days before it is used. Of course 
fat elk are better eating than lean, and it is said 
that venison from castrated bulls is superior to 
any other. 

Domestication of Elk. 

With few exceptions the early attempts to do- 
mesticate elk were made by men who were 
wealthy enough to disregard all thought of profit 
in raising them. They were usually placed under 
the care of servants and the bucks were left un- 
castrated until they became old and unmanage- 
able. Soon the serious problem of controlling 
them outweiglu^d the novelty of their possession, 
and one by one attempts at domestication were 
abandoned. 

A desire to preserve this important game ani- 
mal has caused a renewal of attempts to breed 
it in confinement, and at present there are small 
herds under private ownership in many places in 
the United States. The Biological Survey has 
recently obtained much information from own- 
ers of herds in regard to their experience in 
breeding and rearing the animals, and also their 
opinions as to the possibility^ of making the busi- 
ness of raising them profitable. Of about a 



DEEE FARMING. 



163 



m 



to 



crq 




164 FUR FARMING. 

dozen successful breeders, nearly all are of the 
opinion that raising elk for market can be made 
remunerative if present laws as to the sale of 
the meat are modified. 

One especially important fact has been devel- 
oped by the reports from breeders. It is that the 
elk readily adapts itself to almost any environ- 
ment. Even within the narrow confines of the 
paddocks of the ordinary zoological park the ani- 
mal does well and increases so that periodically 
the herds have to be reduced by sales. 

The fullest reports that have been received by 
the Department of Agriculture from breeders of 
elk are from George W. Euss, of Eureka Springs, 
Ark., through H. N. Yinall, of the Bureau of 
Plant Industry. 

Mr. Kuss has a herd of 34 elk. They have 
ample range in the Ozarks on rough land covered 
with hardwood forest and abundant underbrush. 
The animals improve the forest by clearing out 
part of the thicket. They feed on buds and 
leaves to a height of 8 feet, and any growth 
under this is liable to be eliminated if the range 
is restricted. If not closely confined, elk do not 
eat the bark from trees, nor do they eat ever- 
greens. In clearing out underbrush from thick- 
ets they are more useful than goats, since they 
browse higher. Goats, however, eat closer to 
the ground; and as the two animals get along 



DEER FARMING. 165 

well together, Mr. Russ recommends the use of 
both for clearing up brushy land and fitting it 
for tame grasses. 

The increase of elk under domestication is 
equal to that of cattle. Fully 90 per cent, of the 
females produce healthy young. An adult male 
elk weighs from 700 to 1,000 pounds; a female 
from 600 to 800 pounds. The percentage of 
dressed meat is greater than with cattle, but, 
owing to hostile game laws, experience in mar- 
keting it is very limited. An offer of 40 cents a 
pound for dressed meat was received from St. 
Louis, but the law would not permit its export. 
Mr. Russ says: 

"From the fact that as high as |1.50 per 
pound has been paid for this meat in New York 
City and Canada, and that the best hotels and res- 
taurants pronounce it the finest of all the meats 
of mammals, we are of the opinion that if laws 
were such that domesticated elk meat could be 
furnished it would be many years before the sup- 
ply would make the price reasonable compared 
with other meats. Elk meat can be produced 
in many sections of this country at less cost per 
pound than beef, mutton, or pork." 

Mr. Russ thinks that large areas of rough 
lands in the United States not uoav utilized, es- 
pecially in localities like the Ozarks and the 
Alleghanies, could be economically used to pro- 



166 FUR FARMING. 

cluce venison for sale, and lie regards the elk as 
especially suited for this purpose. 

Another feature of ]\Ir. Russ's report is of 
more than passing interest. He sa^^s : 

"We find from long experience that cattle, 
sheep, and goats can be grazed in the same lots 
with elk, providing, however, that the lots or 
inclosures are not small ; the larger the area the 
better. We know of no more appropriate p1ac(^ 
to call attention to the great benefit of a few 
elk in the same pasture with shee^^ and goats. 
An elk is the natural enemy of dogs and wolves. 
We suffered great losses to our ffocks until we 
learned this fact; since then we have had no loss 
from that cause. A few elk in a tliousand-acre 
pasture will absolutely protect the flocks therein. 
Our own dogs are so well aware of the danger in 
our elk park that they can not be induced to 
enter it." 

* Judge Caton, in his Antelope and Deer of 
America, also remarks on the animosity of elk 
toward dogs, and says that the does always lead 
in the chase of dogs that get into the elk park. 
If elk will attack and vanquish dogs and coy- 
otes and thus help to protect domestic animals 
grazing in the same pastures, a knowledge of the 
fact may be of great advantage to stockmen who 
desire to give up herding sheep and resort to 
fenced pastures instead. The addition of a few 



DEER FARMING. 



167 



elk in the pasture may be an efficient protection 
from dogS; coyotes, and wolves. However, out- 
side of fenced pastures elk do not always show 
themselves hostile to dogs and coyotes. 

Management of Elk in Inclosures. 

Lorenzo Stratton, of Little Valley, Cattarau- 
gus County, X. Y., began experiments in breed- 
ing elk about sixty years ago. His plan of 
management consisted essentially in taming the 
calves when very young and continuing the pet- 
ting process with the entire herd. He visited 
the animals daily in the pasture and always 
carried dainties to feed them. As the bulls 
became old and developed signs of viciousness, 
they were castrated, younger animals being used 
for breeding. He thus developed a thoroughly 
domesticated herd. 

For economic reasons, it is not always pos- 
sible to follow Mr. Stratton's plan. Tliose Avho 
grow the animals for venison and in large pre- 
serves would find it impracticable to tame all 
the calves. However, if elk or deer are grown 
for stocking parks or private preserves, the tamer 
they are the easier it will be to handle and ship 
them. 

Range. — In choosing a range for elk, the nat- 
ural food supply is important. They thrive best 



168 FUR FARMING. 

in preserves having a variety of food plants — 
grasses, bushes, and trees. Rough lands, well 
watered with clear streams and having some 
forested area, are well adapted to their needs. 
About as many elk can be kept on such a range 
as cattle on an equal area of fair pasture. There 
should be thickets enough to furnish winter 
browse, but this should be supplemented by a 
supply of winter forage. 

Food. — Except when deep snows cover the 
ground, elk will keep in good condition on ordi- 
nary pasture and browse; but a system of man- 
agement that provides other food regularly will 
be found more satisfactory. Hay and corn fod- 
der are excellent winter forage; but alfalfa hay 
has proved to be the best dry food for both elk 
and deer. A little oats or corn — whole or chop- 
ped — may be fed each day. Elk are fond of 
corn, and feeding it affords excellent opportuni- 
ties for winning their confidence and taming 
them. The same may be said of salt, which 
should be furnished liberally to all deer kept in 
inclosures. Running water, although not es- 
sential, is of great importance in maintaining 
elk in good condition. 

Fence. — Elk are much less nervous than or- 
dinary deer, and less disposed to jump fences. 
When they escape from an enclosure they usually 
return of their own accord. If tame, they may 



DEER FARMING. 169 

be driven like cattle. Ordinarily, a 5-foot fence 
of any kind will confine elk. Henry Binning, 
of Cora, Wyo., writes us that a 4-foot woven- 
wire fence is ample for these animals. A small 
enclosure in which a vicious bull elk is to be 
kept should be higher and of stronger material. 
Mr. Russ's report, already partly quoted, states 
that where lumber for posts is cheap a good elk 
fence may be built for |200 a mile. But the ac- 
tual cost will, of course, vary greatly according 
to style, price of labor, nearness to market, and 
other circumstances. 

Cost of Stock. — The cost of stocking an elk 
preserve is not .great. Usually surplus stock 
from zoological parks or small private preserves 
may be obtained at low cost, varying with the 
immediate demand for the animals. At times 
they have sold for less than $20 a head, and with 
the present restrictions on sale, low prices are 
likely to continue. A few years ago T. J. Wil- 
son, of Lewisburg, Ohio, paid |165 for three 
animals. A Michigan breeder recently offered 
to deliver a dozen head, sex and age not given, 
all fine specimens, for |500. This is, of course, 
a low price, not more than cattle would bring 
and less than the venison would be worth if 
it could be sold. If restrictions on the sale and 
shipment of venison from private preserves were 
removed, prices of the stock would, of course. 



170 FUR FARMING. 

soon advance, and necessitate a greater outlay 
in starting the business. 

Vicious ^Male Elk. — The male elk is ordinar- 
ily docile, but in the rutting season the older ones 
often become ill-tempered and dangerous. Sev- 
eral tragedies connected Avith attempts to do- 
mesticate elk are matters of history. One was 
recorded by Judge Caton in his Antelope and 
Deer of America as having occurred in his own 
park. Another took place at Bull Cit^^, Osborne 
County, Kans., in October 1879, and resulted 
in the instant death of Gen. H. 0. Bull, the mor- 
tal wounding of two other men, and the serious 
injury of anotlier, from the attacks of an infuri- 
ated bull elk that had previously been regarded 
as extremely gentle. 

Wild and unconfined deer and elk flee from 
man under nearly all circumstances, but when 
wounded and closely pressed they have been 
knoAvn to attack hunters. It is unlikely that, 
even in the rutting season, a wild bull elk would 
attack a human being. But the tame or partially 
tame animals that have become familiar with 
man are to be feared and should not be ap- 
proached in that season without extreme caution. 
A male elk or deer that has once shown vicious- 
ness can not again be trusted. 

The remedy for viciousness in the male elk 
is castration. It is unsafe to keep an uncastrated 



DEER FARMING. 171 

male elk over 4 years old, unless he is iu a 
strongly fenced inclosnre from Avhicli visitors 
are excluded. Tlie effects of castration are to 
make the animal docile and to greatly enhance 
his value for venison. This is in accord Avith ob- 
served results in the production of beef, pork, 
and mutton. Venison grown in domestication 
under a system in A\hich the male animals in- 
tended for slaughter are castrated should be uni- 
formly of the liighest grade and far superior to 
that obtained in the wild state during the usual 
(}\)en season for hunting. This consideration is 
of the greatest importance in fixing the linal 
status of venison grown under domestication. 

Brcc(lii)(/ the Virginia Drrr. 

The Virginia, or whitetail deer {Odocoileus 
mrginianus) is the common deer of the United 
States. Including the half dozen geographic 
races that occur within our borders, it is dis- 
tributed ovei' most of tli*e country, except Ne- 
vada and the major portions of Utah, Arizona, 
Washington, Oregon, and California. It is ex- 
tinct in Delaware and practically so in a num- 
ber of States in the Middle West. South of our 
borders a number of closely related species 
occur. 

In vieAV of the Avide natural range of the 



172 PUR FARMING. 

whitetail deer, its adaptability to nearly all sec- 
tions of the United States can not be doubted. 
Testimony as to its liardines in parks and jn'e- 
serves is not so unanimous as that concerning 
the wapiti; but the general experience of breed- 
ers is that with suitable range, plenty of good 
water, and reasonable care in winter, raising 
this deer for stocking preserves or for venison 
may be made as profitable as anj other live- 
stock industry. Not only do deer thrive on 
land unsuited for cattle or horses, but, like elk, 
they may be raised to great advantage in brushy 
or timbered pastures fully stocked with cattle 
or horses, as the food of deer rarely includes 
grass. 

Advocates of the Angora goat industry state 
that within the United States there are 250,- 
000,000 acres of land not suited to tillage or to 
the pasture of horses, cattle, pr sheep, which are 
well adapted to goats. Much of this land is 
suited also to deer and elk, and can be utilized 
for these animals with less injury to the forest 
cover than Avould result from its browsing by 
goats. 

The whitetail deer has often been the sub- 
ject of experiments in domestication. The beauty 
of these animals, especially the fawns, appeals to 
every admirer of wild life, and early settlers 
of the country soon learned how easily they 



DEER FARMING. 173 

could be tamed and how promptly they attached 
themselves to the persons Avho fed them. The 
dangerous character of the same pets, especially 
the males, when grown up was soon learned also. 
It followed tlmt the domesticating process usual- 
ly ended Avith the maturity of the first subject, 
which was soon disposed of or banished to a 
safe inclosure. 

The propagation of the Virginia deer has 
seldom been undertaken in a systematic way. 
The animals have often been bred in parks for 
pleasure or in large preserves for sport, but the 
economic possibilities in raising them have re- 
ceived little attention. Eecently breeders have 
recognized the fact that they are profitable 
under proper management and would be much 
more so were conditions for marketing live ani- 
mals and venison more favorable. 

Experiences of Breeders. 

The Biological Survey has reports of suc- 
cessful experience in raising Virginia deer from 
more than a dozen persons, located in different 
parts of the country, who are now engaged in 
the business. The management of the herds 
varies slightly with the surroundings and the 
object for which they are kept. 

Thomas Blagden, of Washington, D. C, be- 



174 FUR FARMING. 

gan raising deer in 1874. After an experience 
of oyer a tliird of a century he is confident that 
the business can be made profitable. In his own 
herds he has carefully avoided in-breeding by 
securing new bucks from time to time. His 
stock is vigorous and of the large size charac- 
teristic of the Adirondack and other northern 
deer. Consequently the animals are in demand 
for breeding purposes, the bucks bringing $50 
each and the does, |75. He feeds grain, using 
corn and a mixture of bran and meal, and dur- 
ing the summer cuts as much wild forage as pos- 
sible. He finds that the animals prefer the rank- 
est weeds to the choicest grass. Of the various 
kinds of hay, they prefer alfalfa. He provides 
abundant water at all times. 

John W. Griggs, of Goodell, Iowa, writes 
that he has been engaged in raising deer for 
about fourteen years. Until tAvo years ago he 
sold all his surplus stock for parks, but since 
then has disposed of about half of it for venison. 
For park purposes he gets |20 to |30 a head, but 
they bring fully as much or more when fattened 
for venison. As to management of deer, Mr. 
Griggs writes : 

^'In raising a large herd the park should be 
divided into two or three lots, and one plowed 
each 3^ear and sown to red clover, mustard, rape, 
and seeds of different kinds of weeds. Bluegrass 



DEER FARMING. 175 

and timothy are useless. Corn is the principal 
grain I feed. I feed it winter and summer. In 
winter I feed also clover hay, oat straw, and 
weedy wild hay. Deer when rightly handled 
are very prolific, and from 50 does one can 
count on 75 fawns. They can be raised profit- 
ably for venison — very profitably until overdone ; 
but I would not advise one to go into it on a 
large scale without previous experience with 
deer.'' 

The report received from C. H. Roseberry, 
of Stella, Mo., although less enthusiastic than 
others, is quoted because liis herd approaclies 
more nearly a state of true domestication. Un- 
der date of January 13, 1908, Mr. Koseberry 
wrote as follows : 

'^My experience in breeding the common or 
Virginia deer covers a period of seventeen years, 
beginning in March, 1891, when, as a boy of 16, 
I built a small inclosure of 1^ acres to confine a 
single doe that was captured as a fawn in the 
neighboring forest. 

'^A buck and other does were secured from 
year to year, until in 1900, by purchase and nat- 
ural increase, my herd numbered 25 head of all 
ages. 

"From 1891 to 1901 I lost every year from 
disease an average of 20 per cent. The climax 
came in the drought year of 1901, when my loss 



176 FUR FARMING. 

was 50 per cent from the disease known as 
"black tongue." 

"I am convinced that, like cholera in swine, 
individuals recovering from this disease are im- 
mune from further attack. iVpparently all of 
my herd were afflicted. The- survivors and their 
progeny constitute my present breeding stock. I 
have made no purchases since 1901, nor have I 
suffered any loss from disease. 

"For the last seven years my herd has aver- 
aged 70 per cent increase, all of which I have 
sold at satisfactory prices. I began selling at 
?20 per pair of fawns at 4 months of age and |30 
per pair of adults. I now get $40 and |60, re- 
spectively. I sell almost exclusively for pets 
and for propagating purposes, although a few 
surplus bucks have been sold for venison, averag- 
ing me 15 cents per pound gross weight. 

"If we except the goat, I know of no domes- 
tic animal common to the farm that requires 
so little feed and attention as the deer. My 
herd has a range of only 15 acres, two- thirds 
of which are set to white clover, bluegrass, and 
orchard grass. I provide also a small plat of 
wheat or rye for winter pasture. With the above 
provision, in this latitude, no feed is required 
between April 15 and November 15. During the 
rest of the year a ration of corn, bran, or other 
mill feed somewhat smaller than that required 



DEER FARMING. 177 

for sheep, in connection with a stack of clorer 
or pea hay to which tliey liave free access, is 
sufficient to Ivcep them in o-ood condition. Deer 
eat with relish nearly all of the common coarse 
weeds, and for c]earin,i>' land of brnsh they are, 
I think, second only to the common goat. 

"Probably the greatest expense connected 
with the business of raising deer is the fencing. 
Another item of trouble and expense, when the 
animals are raised for pets, requiring that they 
be handled and shii)ped alive, is the fact that the 
fawns must be taken from the does when 10 days 
old and raised by hand on cow's milk. They are 
({uite easily raised in this way, with but slight^ 
percentage of loss, but require frequent and care- 
ful attention for the first month. When they are 
allowed to run with the does their natural wild- 
ness can not be overcome, no matter h©w gentle 
the does may be. 

"I have found the business profitable on the 
lines indicated. I believe they could be profit- 
ably bred for venison alone — certainly with less 
trouble and expense, since the fawns could be 
reared by the does and the trouble and expense 
of raising by hand would be eliminated. 

"My experience does not coincide with that of 
some other breeders in respect to the weakening 
of reproductive powers of deer by the confine- 

12* 



178 



FUR FARMING. 



ment in parks. I liav no barren does. Usnally 
they produce a single fawn at two j^ears of age; 
afterwards twins, and in rare cases triplets." 

Management of Yircirriia Deer. 

As to the management of deer little need be 
added to the statements from practical breed- 




Tame Deer Eating Watermelon. 



ers already given. Virginia deer are polyga- 
mous, like cattle; the rutting season is in 
November; the period of gestation is about seven 
months, and the fawns are born in May or June. 
Young does usually breed when about 17 
months old and have but one fawn the first 



DEER FARMING. 179 

time; afterwards the commonly produce twins. 
The fawns are spotted until the first shedding 
of the hair in the fall. 

While deer are chiefly browsing animals, in 
captivity thej^ eat nearly every kind of vegeta- 
tion, including most kinds of garden stuff. They 
are fond of acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts, and 
other mast. Lily pads, leaves, lichens, and 
mosses are freely eaten. With plenty of range 
and an abundant variety of plants there need 
be, therefore, no apprehension concerning the 
deer's food. A good supply of running water 
must be provided, and the animals should have 
access to rock salt. If the browse and pastur- 
age are scant, a small ration of grain should be 
fed. Of the grains, corn is generally recom- 
mended as a food; there is no waste, as the deer 
pick up every grain. Coarse hay full of weeds 
is preferable to timothy or other tame hays, 
except alfalfa. Of clover hay, deer usually eat 
the blossom heads greedily, but waste the other 
parts. In winter feeding is necessary everywhere, 
nnd in the northern half of the United States 
shelter of some kind should be provided. 

The remarks about castrating elk apply as 
well to the common deer. A number of vigorous 
bucks, however, must be kept Avith any consider- 
able herd of does, for a single buck can not 
serve an unlimited number. Frequent changes 



180 FUR FARMING. 

of blood hj introducing new bucks should be 
practiced to avoid inbreeding. 

Wild Deer in Private Game Preserves. 

Individual owners, as well as associations, 
have established large private preserves in many 
parts of the country and stocked them with deer 
and other big game. The objects have been to 
preserve the animals and to provide sport for the 
owners. In the free life under the protected 
conditions generally provided, deer do remark- 
ably well, tlie increase being even more rapid 
than in small parks. There can be no doubt 
of the success of ventures in propagating the 
Virginia deer under natural conditions as wild 
game, as is proved by the experience of a 
large number of hunting clubs and private own- 
ers. 

Deer in Buckwood Park, a New Jersey pre- 
serve of 4,000 acres, belonging to Charles S. 
Worthington, increased in the ten years between 
1892 and 1903 from 19 to about 400 head, and 
the number was then lessened because it was 
thought too large for the permanent sustaining 
capacity of the park. The St. Louis Park and 
Agricultural Company have about 1,000 deer and 
400 elk in their 5,000-acre preserve in Taney 
County, Mo. The Otzinachson Rod and Gun 



DEER FARMING. 181 

Club six years ago placed about 90 deer, mostly 
does, in their 4,000 acre park in Clinton County, 
Pa. These have multiplied to nearly 2,000 head, 
and a further increase of about a thousand fawns 
is expected during the present season (1908). 
Doubtless these experiences are not exceptional. 
The good effect of such preserves on the sup- 
ply of game in the State should not be over- 
looked. While they may temporarily restrict 
the hunting privileges of a few citizens, they ul- 
timately become a source of game supply second- 
ary in importance only to State preserves or 
game refuges. Already a number of private re- 
serves have become overstocked, and game has 
escaped or been turned over to the State to be- 
come the property of the people. The success of 
private enterprise in propagating large game in 
inclosures has thus become an object lesson for 
State game commissioners and others, and sug- 
gests the feasibilitv of the State's undertaking 
a similar work for the people. 

GAME LAWS IN RELATION TO DEER FARMING. 

The chief obstacle to profitable propagation 
of deer in the United States is the restrictive 
character of State laws governing the killing, 
sale, and transportation of game. Many of the 
States, following precedent, lay down the broad 



182 FUR FARMING. 

rule that all the game animals in the State, whetlr 
er resident or migratory, are the property of the 
State. A few States except game animals that 
are ^'uncler private ownership legally acquired.'' 
A fcAv others encourage private ownership by 
providing a way in which wild animals — deer 
and the like- -nmy be captured for domestication. 
Generally, when private OAvnershij) of game is 
recognized by law, the right to kill sucli game 
is granted, but the owner is hampered by tlie 
same regulations as to season, sale, and sliip- 
nu^nt that apply to wild game. One by one, 
however, State legislatures are coming to recog- 
nize the interests of game propagators, and game 
hiAvs are gradually being modified in accordance 
with tlie change of view. 

The chief source from which deer and elk 
may be obtained for stocking preserves is froui 
animals already in captivity. Tliese must be 
transported from place to place or there can be 
no commerce in theui, Aet tlie laws of many 
States absolutely forbid their shipment. The 
laws as to possession and transportation of deer 
carcasses make the sliipping of venison also il- 
legal. General export of venison is legal from 
only six of the States, and three of these have 
no wild deer left to protect. 

The laws concerning the season for killing 
and the sale of deer are often equally embarrass- 



DEER FARMING. 183 

ing to those who would produce venison for 
profit. The owner of domesticated deer can not 
legally kill liis animals except in open season. 
Owners of private i)reserves are similarly re- 
stricted and are limited to the killing of one or 
two animals in a season. More than half 
the States and territories absolutely forbid 
the sale of venison. A few forbid the sale of ven- 
ison produced within the State, but permit the 
sale of that imported from other States, a most 
unjust discrimination against home industry. 

The following States have recently modified 
their laws so as to provide, under regulations, 
for the sale of deer from private preserves. 
Transportation and even export are included in 
some of them. 

Arkansas. — Possession, sale, and shipment 
of deer or faA^ns is permitted when they have 
been raised in captivity for domestic purposes 
and are accompanied by an affidavit from the 
raiser. 

Colorado. — Owners of private preserves un- 
der a license are permitted to sell and ship deer 
or other quadrupeds that are accompanied by an 
invoice. A fee is required for each animal sold. 

Illinois. — Any person who raises deer for 
market may kill and sell them at any time in the 
same manner as other domestic animals. 

Indiana. — The provisions of the law as to pos- 



184 FUR FARMING. 

session and sale do not apply to persons who 
have under ownership or control any deer raised 
in a deer park. 

Massachusetts. — The owner may sell his 
own tame deer kept on his own grounds. 

Minnesota. — Persons Avho desire to domesti- 
cate deer, moose, elk, or caribou ma^^ secure a 
I)ermit to do so from the State board of game 
and fish commissioners by paying a fee of 50 
cents for each animal in captivity and a like fee 
for each animal added later by natural increase 
or otherwise. The animals kept in captivity may 
be sold or shipped Avithin or without tlie State, 
by permission of the commissioners. 

Mlssouri. — Deer or elk, alive or dead, may 
be shipped from any private preserve and sold in 
the markets of the State when accompanied by a 
tag furnished by the game warden of the county, 
showing whose property it is, where killed and 
to whom shipped. 

New Hampshire. — The Blue Mountain Forest 
Association may kill elk, deer, or moose in their 
preserve for one month after the open season, 
and at any time may transport them outside the 
State. 

New York. — ^Deer may be sold during the 
open season; and moose, elk, caribou, and ante- 
lope from private parks may be sold during the 
same period. Common carriers may transport ani- 



DEER FARMING. 185 

mals into tlie State for breeding purposes, but 
may not transport venison unless it is accompan- 
ied by the owner. 

North Carolina. — Seventeen counties per- 
mit the OAvner and keeper of an inclosed game 
preserve, who raises deer for use or sale, to kill, 
sell, or use those raised or kept in said inclosure. 

Pennsylvania.— Owners of game preserves 
who hold a game propagating certificate may sell 
and transport deer or fawn alive for propagating 
purposes only, after securing the written con- 
sent of the president of the board of game com- 
missioners. 

In three or four other States game "under 
private ownership, legally acquired," is supposed 
to be exempt from general provisions of the game 
law ; but in a test case as to its sale or export it 
is doubtful whether the courts would so hold 
without more specific provision legalizing such 
commerce. 

summary. 

The domestication of deer and elk offers an 
interesting field for experiment, as well as re- 
munerative returns for the investment of capital. 

The wapiti and the Virginia deer can be 
raised sucessfully and cheaply under many dif- 
ferent conditions of food and climate. The pro- 
duction of venison and the rearing of both spe- 



186 FUR FARMING. 

cies for stoekiui; parks may be made profitable 
industries in the United States. 

Instead of hampering breeders by restrictions, 
as at present, State hi^Vs should be so modified 
as to encourage the raising of deer, elk, and 
other animals as a source of profit to the individ- 
ual and to the State. 

Safeguards against the destruction and sale 
of wild deer in place of domesticated deer are 
not difficult to enforce. For this purpose a sys- 
tem of licensing private parks, and of tagging 
deer or carcases sold or shipped, so that they 
may be easily identified, is recommended. 

tl is believed that with favorable legislation 
much otherwise waste land in the United States 
may be utilized for the production of venison 
so as to yield profitable returns, and also that 
this excellent and nutritious meat, instead of 
being denied to 99 per cent of the population of 
the country, may become as common and as cheap 
in our markets as mutton. 




The above illustration shows the front cover of Hunt«r -Trader - 
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upon application. See following pages. 



Hunter 
Trader 



Trapper 



HS its Name Indicates is a Magazine of Information 
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The Editor is a man of long experience in handling 
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ience with trap, gun and dog -you will enjoy them. 

The magazine contains from 128 to 200 pages each 
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The magazine is printed on good quality paper and the 
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Ginseng and Other 
Medicinal Plants 



jHIS book contains about 300 pages and 75 illustra- 
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and Prospecting 



is a valuable book for homesteaders, hunters, trap- 
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Poor Man's Ore MiH, 

Prospecting for Fiir. 

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Prospecting for Bees. 

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Camp Kits. 

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I. 


Maps. 


XI. 


II. 


The Compass. 


XII. 


III. 


Examining and Locat- 


XIII. 




ing. 


XIV. 


IV. 


Early Surveys. 


XV. 


V. 


Corner Marks. 




VI. 


Miscellaneous Inform- 


XVI. 




ation. 


XVII. 


VII. 


Points for Homestead- 






ers. 


XVIII. 


VIII. 


Prospecting for Gold. 




IX. 


Sampling Ore. 


XIX. 


X. 


How to Locate a Claim. 


XX. 



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A. R. Harding Publishing Co. : : : Columbus, Ohio 



Bee Hunting 

A BOOK OF VAI,UABI,B INFORMATION FOR BFF 
HUNTERS. Tells How to I^ine Bees to Trees, Etc. 




The following is taken from the Author' s 
Ifitroduction to BEE HUNTING 

MANY books on sports of various 
kinds have been written, but 
outside of an occasional article 
in periodicHls devoted to bee litera- 
ture, but little has been written on 
1 he subject of Bee Hunting. There- 
fore, I have tried in this volume- 
Bee Hunting for Pleasure and Profit 
— to jiive a work in compact form, 
the product of what I have learned 
along this line during the forty 
years in nature's school room. 

Brother, if in reading these pages, 
you find something that will be of 
value to you, something that will 
inculcate a desire for manly pastime 
and make your life brighter, then 
my aim will have been reached. 

The book contains ij chapters as follows : 

I. Bee Hunting. 

II. Fatly Spring Hunting. 

III. Bee Watering— How to Find Them. 

IV. Hunting Bees from Sumac. 

v. Hunting Bees from Buckwheat. 

VI. Fall Hunting. 

VII. Improved Mode of Burning. 

VIII. Facts About I,ine of Flight. 

IX. Baits and Scents. 

X. Cutting the Tree and Transferring. 

XI. Customs and Ownership of Wild Bees. 

XII. Benefactors and Their Inventions. 

XIII. Bee Keeping for Profit. 

This book contains 80 pages, paper cover. 
Price, postpaid, only 25 cents. 

A. R. Harding Pub. Co., Columbus, Ohio 



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